§ Mr. Charles KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of the assistance to public transport in rural areas announced in the Budget will be allocated to(a) the providers of bus services and (b) the operators of rail services. [38563]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe Budget included provision for an additional £50 million a year across the UK for rural public transport. There is no specific provision for the operators of rail services. £45 million will be used to support additional bus services in rural areas. The rest will be made available for community-based transport schemes. Criteria will be developed to ensure a fair and comparable distribution process, and to make sure the money gets to where it is most needed.