Direct Subsidy Urged for Highland Bus Sern
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A LL operators working essential but
unremunerative bus services in Scotland's highlands and islands should receive direct Government subsidies, an official inquiry has reported to Mr. Marpies.
The Highland Transport Inquiry, set up to examine widely the future of road,' rail, sea and air transport in this lonely area, has sent the Minister a separate report on bus services.
The inquiry also foresees the necessity for the co-ordination of all forms of public transport in the highlands and islands.
The Inquiry's report on bus services is a corollary to the Jack Report which covered all Britain and on which Government action is still awaited. But the Scottish Inquiry's main conclusion differs vitally from the Jack Report's chief recommendation.
After examining the different subsidies and incentives already offered to the remote bus services, the Scottish Inquiry urges that they should be continued, and supplemented and expanded from central funds. It rejects the county council aid scheme put forward by the Jack Committee.
Small Bus Potential
The report states that, because of geography and population factors, bus revenue potential in the highlands and islands is small. In spite of this, more than two-thirds of the mileage covered must be regarded as arterial.
The present arrangements include a Government grant, for Macbrayne, Ltd. —without which many of its services c20
could not be maintained—and B.T.C. assistance for Highland Omnibuses, Ltd. (part of the Scottish Omnibuses Group), to meet operating losses.
Apart from these larger operators, smaller but still substantial companies provide services in several areas, while one-man concerns cover 40 per cent, of the private sector. Many of these smaller groups and concerns are kept going by mail, parcels and schools contracts, but the Inquiry warns that some are finding it increasingly, difficult to continue, and "there is a growing risk that some essential services may have to close if they are not assisted."
In addition, Highland Omnibuses may have reached the limit to which aid can be forthcoming from the rest of the Scottish bus group.
Post Office Contracts
Of the solutions considered by the Jack Committee, the Inquiry most favours the idea of developing co-operation with the Post Office, which, it says, should be invited to reconsider the amount of mail that could be sent by bus, and the possibility of fare-paying' passengers being carried in P.O. vans.
But the Inquiry cannot agree with the majority of the Jack Committee who found in favour of County Council rate assistance, with the help of Exchequer grant.
It reaches this conclusion because of the excessive financial and administrative responsibilities which would rest on the highland authorities; the anomalies which might result; and the difficulties involved with services crossing county boundaries. Instead, it offers the f solution: I. Present subsidies should tinued, and extended as necess the case of Highland Omnibi question of direct subsidy should sidered.
2. Assistance from central func be considered to support services stage carriers throughout th provided the need can be establi. the services shown to he essentia 3. Such aid should, like Mac be in the form of a contrac unremunerative services about abandoned and considered should be put out to tender.
What is Essential?
To effect this, the Inquiry s there should be a body or autl determine whether a service is to determine the extent of aid award contracts.
This body would need a knom other transport serving the area no existing body is thought su may be necessary to make arra' to provide for the co-ordinatio forms of public transport operators from bases in the 1 and islands.
YEOMAN CHANGE THE London branch of
Credit, Ltd., at Great Cut Place has ceased to function an operating from the company's ..ht at Yeoman House, Kew Bridgi ford. Middlesex.