§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what plans he has to assist local authorities and passenger transport executives to continue operating the schools special journey buses, especially those not being registered with the traffic commissioners by the Yorkshire Traction Company; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what consideration he has given to awarding special grants to those local authorities whose school buses are likely to be withdrawn from service as a result of bus companies not registering them with the traffic commissioners because they do not operate on a profitable basis; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what system he intends to operate to safeguard young schoolchildren's safety on the roads walking to school as a result of school bus services being withdrawn, as under the terms of the Transport Act they cannot be registered because they are unprofitable services; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RidleyLocal authorities and passenger transport executives can subsidise local bus services, including school services, to supplement those which have been registered as commercially viable. Their expenditure on public transport revenue support is taken into account in the calculation of the rate support grant. Competitive tendering for subsidy contracts will ensure value for money spent on bus service subsidies.