BUSINESS
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RURAL BUS GRANT
• Rural bus operators are now able to claim a Government rural bus grant of 3. 7p per vehicle kilometre (6p per vehicle mile).
To qualify for the grant, which will be available for the next four years, operators will have to have to run bus services at least 4.8km (three miles) outside built-up areas with populations of 25,000 or over as defined by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys or the Registrar General's Office in Scotland.
The grant will be payable directly by the Department of Transport in the same way as fuel duty rebate. The few rural areas in Greater London will not be eligible for grant.
The rural bus grant is separate from the Development Commission rural bus service innovation grant which was launched in February. This fund exists to help with start up costs for transport projects in areas with populations less than 10,000 in England. To qualify the service proposed will need to meet needs not already being met by other operators or services.
Similar funds exist in Scotland and Wales. -Details of these are available from the Scottish and Welsh offices.