HC Deb 29 January 2002 vol 379 cc202-3W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions when he plans to announce the funding arrangements that will apply to community transport schemes in south Gloucestershire for April 2002. [31258]

Ms Keeble

South Gloucestershire council is able to bid for Government funding to support community transport schemes under either the urban or rural bus challenge competitions. In addition, funding allocated to it from the rural bus subsidy grant scheme may be used for continuing support of a project initially supported by a rural bus challenge award.

The results of the latest round of the Rural Bus Challenge, including an award of £578,827 to the authority for the continuation of the Vale Link and Yate and Sobbury community transport schemes in south Gloucestershire, were announced on 25 January.

We will be introducing shortly arrangements under which for the first time a wide range of community transport services will become eligible for the receipt of fuel duty rebate.