§ Mr. LivseyTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will give details of the number, type, and levels of grant paid under the rural transport innovation grant (Transport Act 1985) in(a) England and (b) Wales.
§ Mr. David MitchellI have been asked to reply.
The administration of the rural transport innovation grant in Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
The English equivalent of the grant is the rural transport development fund, which is administered by the Development Commission on behalf of the Department of Transport. The commission has paid 100 grants and has approved a further 14. Seventy grants, averaging about £8,500, have been paid for scheduled services, mainly by minibuses and taxibuses. Additionally, 18 grants have been paid to assist the appointment of county transport advisers, at an annual average of about £6,250 for up to three years, and 12 grants, averaging about £4,000, have been paid towards other miscellaneous projects.