Bus tax rebate
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• The Conservatives were this week taking advantage of the passage of the Transport Bill to attempt to make some basic changes in the system of bus fuel tax rebate, writes our political correspondent. Although Mrs. Castle's increase in the rebate for stage services from 10d to Is 7d a gallon from January 1 next year seems generous, the Tories were asking: "Why is 7d? Why not 3s 7d?"
They could not hope to get that amount but they wanted to probe the Minister's arithmetic and attempt to get at least some increase. Amendments tabled in the past week also sought to extend the rebate to cover express and contract carriage working, workers' services and school children's services. They also argued that the dividing line between express and stage carriage (a minimum ls fare) was outdated through inflation and should be redefined—perhaps by raising it to 5s, or at least 4s.