§ 28. Mr. Spellerasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress in the provision of rural bus services.
§ 46. Mr. Maclennanasked the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of the Transport Act 1985 upon the extent and operation of rural bus services.
§ Mr. David MitchellIt appears that rural bus services have been broadly maintained at their previous levels and that there have been substantial savings in local authority subsidy. The Government's transitional rural grant, worth up to £20 million for Great Britain in the present financial year, and the rural transport development fund, worth £1 million in England this year, with additional amounts available for Scotland and Wales, have contributed to this good result, and to a number of innovative rural services.