Minister slammed on bus services

via http://www.rsnonline.org.uk

Minister slammed on bus services

By  Ruralcity Media

TRANSPORT minister Norman Baker has denied passing back the buck on rural bus services to local authorities.

The Liberal Democrat MP for Lewes was responding to a question in the House of Commons from Angela Smith, Labour MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge.

Ms Smith had asked Mr Baker to make a statement on improving access to bus services in rural areas.

Mr Baker replied: "The provision of bus services in rural areas, as in urban areas, is predominantly a matter for commercial operators and for local authorities."

The government had, however, recently provided £10 million of extra funding to help local councils develop community transport in their areas, he added.

Alluding to the railway cuts of the 1960s, Ms Smith responded: "Does the Minister accept that the equivalent of Beeching is going on in rural bus services?"

The government was "doing nothing other than passing the buck to local authorities," she continued.

But Mr Baker replied: "No, I do not accept that."

Almost four out of five bus services were provided commercially as opposed to being subsidised by local councils, he added.

"So far there have been no cuts at all to support from central government for those services."

Cuts to the Bus Service Operators Grant would come in next April, said Mr Baker.

"The performance of local authorities up and down the country is very varied.

"If she looks at East Riding, which is not very far from her, she will find that the Beeching cuts to which she refers are certainly not occurring there or in many other councils.

"Many councils are protecting bus services; some are not."

Liberal Democrat MP Julian Huppert (Cambridge) then asked whether the government would consider further support for sustainable transport.

The area, which included rural public transport, was critical for people and their ability to get around as well as for jobs and growth, said Mr Huppert.

Mr Baker replied: "As part of the growth review, the government are looking to see what we can do to boost transport further."

The full exchange can be read here.