§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if his Department has authorised the First Group School Bus pilot initiative on the basis that the vehicles are classified as coaches; and if he will make a statement;[152476]
(2) if he has made it a condition that vehicles used in the First Group School Bus pilot comply with (a) ECER 66 regulations and (b) ECEM 3 standard regulations; [152475]
(3) if the glass used in the construction of the First Group School Bus pilot meets the same standards as required for UK public service vehicles; and if he will make a statement. [152477]
§ Mr. HillThe vehicles to be operated in the First Bus Pilot School Project are considered to be coaches. However, because they do not have any under-floor luggage space they are not required to comply with ECE Regulation 66. Before they can be used the vehicles will be modified to meet the requirements of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, as amended; the Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment, Use and Certification) Regulations 1981, as amended; and the Road Vehicles Lighting
£ million Nature of funding 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 Revenue Support Grant1 4.5 57.5 58.9 56.7 61.4 Income from National Non-Domestic Rates1 5.9 44.5 48.4 54.8 53.6 Local Government Reorganisation Supplementary Credit Approval 3.3 2.3 — — — Housing Investment Programme 2.2 2.1 3.7 4.6 1.7 Major Repairs Allowance — — — — 5.4 Housing Revenue Account Subsidy 6.1 5.3 5.0 4.4 3.8 Capital Receipts Initiative — 1.3 1.3 — — Cash Incentive Scheme 0.1 0.1 — — — Loan Charges Defective Housing 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.005 0.005 SRB Funding2 — 0.04 0.08 0.2 0.2 Transport Supplementary Grant1 — 0.6 0.7 — — Transport Annual Capital Guideline1 — 0.6 0.7 — — Transport Block Supplementary Credit Approval1 — 0.3 0.7 2.7 4.3 Rural Bus Subsidy Grant1 — 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06 Capital Challenge (Supplementary Credit and Basic Credit Approvals) — 0.1 0.1 — — 1Warrington became a unitary authority from 1 April 1998. For 1997–98 the following funding relating to the Warrington Borough area will have gone to Cheshire County Council: Transport Supplementary Grant Transport ACG Transport SCA Rural Bus Subsidy Grant The change to Unitary status also explains the large increases in Revenue Support Grant and National Non-Domestic Rates from 1998–99. 2Single Regeneration Budget—Round 4 The T.R.E.E. Project (Training and Retraining for Employment and Employability) The four-year scheme aims to develop an innovative solution to tackle deprivation on several estates in Warrington. Three key priority areas will be tackled—training and employability, community business support and community development. Total SRB £584,000.