§ Mr. Mark FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to encourage the use of coaches for long-distance public transport. [57329]
§ Ms KeebleCoaches play an important role in the provision of inter-city and commuter transport. They are commercially self-supporting and demand has remained buoyant over the last decade. I am keen to encourage their use. Officials are regularly in touch with coach industry representatives.
The Government are in discussion with the coach industry about proposals to pay bus service operators' grant (formerly called "fuel duty rebate") for scheduled coach services which offer concessionary fares.