§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what representations he has received regarding extensions to the 42-day notice period for bus service variations; and if he will pay compensation to operators compelled to continue running uneconomic services; [91478]
(2) what studies he has commissioned into the commercial effects of repealing section 92(1) of the Transport Act 1985 or otherwise relaxing local authorities' duty not to inhibit competition in bus services; [91417]
(3) what representations he has received regarding compensation for bus operators excluded from routes or areas under a re-regulated Quality Contract. [91418]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThese are among the matters on which we have consulted widely with the bus industry, local authorities and other interested parties in our publication "From Workhorse to Thoroughbred—A Better Role for Bus Travel". Several hundred responses have been received in total, and they will be carefully considered as we develop firm proposals.
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to set national criteria for determining the social necessity of uncommercial passenger bus services. [91408]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonNone. We intend that decisions about subsidising local bus services should remain a matter for the judgment of individual local authorities in the context of their local transport plans.
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of 1999 rural bus challenge funds were allocated to projects in the(a) North West, (b) North East, (c) Yorkshire and the Humber, (d) West Midlands, (e) East Midlands, (f) Eastern, (g) South West and (h) South East Government Office regions. [91411]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe invitation to local authorities to submit bids for the 1999 Rural Bus Challenge was issued on 2 July. The closing date is 1 October 1999 and we expect to announce decisions by early December.
386WThe breakdown of awards under last year's Rural Bus Challenge, as announced on 16 December 1998 are:
Area £ Percentage (a) North West 1,154,510 10 (b) North East 1,863,850 16 (c) Yorkshire and the Humber 572,200 5 (d) West Midlands 361,490 3 (e) East Midlands 3,485,190 31 (f) Eastern 1,646,850 14 (g) South West 1,265,604 11 (h) South East 1,069,000 9 Total 11,418,694 991 1 Due to rounding