§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proportion of public bus services in England have been operated by Arriva in the last three years for which figures are available. [56190]
§ Ms KeebleThis information is not collected by my Department. However, information in the Bus Industry Monitor 2001 (published by TAS Publications & Events Ltd.) indicates that Arriva services represent around 15 per cent. of the total bus market, measured by turnover.
§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions how much public subsidy has been paid to Arriva to maintain public bus services in England in the last three years for which figures are available. [56191]
§ Ms KeebleArriva, like many other bus companies, receives public support for maintaining bus services in the form of local authority funding of contracted subsidised services and concessionary fares and fuel duty rebate from my Department.
My Department does not collect information on the amounts received by individual bus companies from local authorities.
The amounts paid to individual claimants for fuel duty rebate are regarded as commercially confidential.
We are undertaking a review of bus subsidy mechanisms to ensure that they contribute as effectively as possible to the achievement of our objectives.