§ Norman LambTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what percentage of people living in(a) each predominantly rural constituency and (b) rural areas nationally live within 10 minutes' walk of a bus service operating at least hourly. [41447]
753W
§ Ms KeebleMy Department's National Travel Survey indicates that 47 per cent, of rural households in England, defined as households in a settlement with less than 3,000 population, lived within about 10 minutes' walk of a bus service operating at least hourly in 1998 to 2000. This figure should be treated with caution as sample sizes for rural areas are small, despite aggregation of data over a three year period. For this reason, these data cannot be broken down to a constituency level.
§ Norman LambTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what additional funding is being made available to meet the target laid down in the Rural White Paper for the proportion of the rural population living within 10 minutes' walk of a bus service operating at least hourly by(a) 2004 and (b) 2010. [41446]
§ Ms KeebleWe have made available £198 million for rural bus services in England over the period 2001–02 to 2003–04, through the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant and Rural Bus Challenge schemes. Funding for these schemes beyond 2003–04 will be decided in light of future spending reviews, reflecting our 10-year plan and Rural White Paper targets and commitments for rural transport. Local authorities also have the discretion to use revenue support funding allocated by my Department for additional rural bus services.