§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many new bus registrations there were in England in(a) 1994, (b), 1995, (c), 1996, (d), 1997, (e) 1998 and (f) 1999 to date; [91394]
(2) how many bus service registrations have been rejected by the Traffic Commissioners in the last 12 months for which figures are available. [91416]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe figures for new bus registrations are as follows:
Note:
Financial year Registrations in England and Wales1 1994–95 4,917 1995–96 4,493 1996–97 4,465 1997–98 4,302 1998–99 5,169 1 Prior to 1 May 1999, when an all Wales Traffic Area was established, the only dat on new bus registrations readily available covers both England and Wales. During the period from 1 April to 30 June 1999 there were 1,088 new registrations. In the 12 months to June 1999, three applications for new bus service registration had been rejected.
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of the total bus subsidy in England supports services operating in(a) metropolitan areas, (b) non-metropolitan areas and (c) Greater London. [91407]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThere are two elements of bus service subsidy: the support of services by local authorities from their own resources, for socially necessary services; and Fuel Duty Rebate (FDR), which is paid by central Government directly to the bus operators for the local bus services they operate. Figures for local authority support for 1997–98 (the latest year figures are currently available for) are:
Subsidy for buses in Greater London is provided as part of the London Transport grant. In 1997–98 London Transport buses made a gross operating profit of £0.1 million.
£ million Percentage Metropolitan areas 98 53 Non-metropolitan areas 86 47 Total 184 — The figure for FDR support in England in 1998–99 was £224.5 million. Statistics are not kept on the split of this total between services in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas and Greater London.