Bus grant change will not affect improvement
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ANY CHANGE in the level or control of the bus grant system will not be allowed to damage the Government's "commitment to the continued improvement of public transport". This pledge has been given by Transport Minister Fred Mulley to Labour MP Mr Leslie Huckfield in a letter written in September but delayed because of the election. Mr Mulley's Ministry confirmed this week that no decision on a change to the bus grant system (exclusively forecast in CM, August 30) had yet been taken.
In his letter Mr Mulley said that the problem with the grant in recent years had been that the amount voted by Parliament for the purpose' had been exceeded. This year latest estimates showed that the figure would again be exceeded and by a considerable margin. Against this background "it seemed right to review the situation so as to ensure that the financial needs of the industry were presented more accurately to Parlia ment," said Mr Mulley.
DoE officials are to report back to the Minister on ways of improving control of thc bus grant and a decision or whether new machinery i! needed will be taken then Mr Mulley also said that nc decision had been taker about what he called Um "appropriate levels of bet: grant".