§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what sums he has authorised in each of the financial years 1990–91 and 1991–92 for assisting passenger services on the River Thames in London; and what were the approximate number of passenger miles travelled on assisted services, and the assistance in pence per mile respectively for the year 1990–91.
§ Mr. McLoughlinThe £500,000 grant made by the Government in 1989 was part of a £2.5 million public-private sector initiative to promote and improve the service provided, and to enable the undertaking to establish its commercial viability over a three-year period. We have made no further grants. The current operator, the River Bus Partnership, is not required to provide us with details of passenger carryings.