§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, pursuant to his answer of 29 January 2002,Official Report, column 202W, on community transport schemes, what sources of finance will be available to sustain community transport schemes when the Rural Bus Challenge scheme is ended. [32861]
§ Ms KeebleCurrent spending plans provide for at least two further annual Rural Bus Challenge competitions. However, it was never envisaged that the Rural Bus Challenge scheme would provide funding for particular projects on a permanent basis.
In addition to the possibility of further funding from an authority's existing Rural Bus Subsidy Grant allocation, which I mentioned in my previous answer, local authorities have powers to provide continuing support from their own resources for projects which meet a public transport need which would not otherwise be met. Authorities also have discretion to use capital funding allocated by my Department for small scale integrated transport measures to provide capital support for community transport projects, in line with the priorities in their local transport plans.
Funding is also available for community transport, and other, projects in rural areas through the Rural Transport Partnership and Parish Transport Grant schemes.