HC Deb 17 December 2002 vol 396 cc694-5W
13. Annette Brooke

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent changes have(a) recently taken place and (b) are planned to bus subsidies provided by his Department. [85913]

Mr. Spellar

We have recently extended Bus Service Operators Grant (formerly called fuel duty rebate) to many community transport services and introduced a 100 per cent. fuel duty rebate on biodiesel. We are considering ways of applying this grant to scheduled coach services in 2003–04 in return for half-fare concessions for older and disabled passengers. Our Bus Subsidy Review is considering whether any further changes to subsidy mechanisms will help to achieve our policy objectives for bus services, which include increasing patronage, modal shift and promoting social inclusion.

14. Mr. Kidney

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what conclusions he has reached on the future use of fuel duty rebate to support public bus services. [85914]

Mr. Jamieson

Our Bus Subsidy Review is currently considering whether any changes to fuel duty rebate will help to achieve our policy objectives for bus services, which include increasing patronage, modal shift and promoting social inclusion. The review will report its conclusions to Ministers by February 2003.

20. Dr. Starkey

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what response he will be giving to the report of the Commission for Integrated Transport on Public Subsidy for the Bus Industry. [85920]

Mr. Jamieson

We welcome the report of the Commission for Integrated Transport on Public Subsidy for the Bus Industry. We will consider our response as part of my Department's Review of Bus Subsidies.

22. Mr. Ben Chapman

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people used buses in England in the last year for which figures are available. [85922]

Mr. Jamieson

In 2001, according to data from the National Travel Survey, 58 per cent. of household residents in England used local buses at least once a year and 27 per cent. used them at least once a week.

Bus passenger journeys in England increased by one per cent. in 2001–02 compared to 2000–01, with £3.8 billion journeys in all.