§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to the problem of bus services being withdrawn while the route is subject to a process of competitive tendering; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonRegional and islands councils in Scotland have the power to subsidise any service which they consider to be socially necessary and which is not being provided on a commercial basis. If it appears that the time scale of the normal tendering process might lead to a gap in the provision of a service, the local authorities have the power under section 91(2) of the Transport Act 1985 to enter into temporary emergency agreements to maintain or replace services or to secure a new service.