Bus Grant under threat

With the coalition government looking everywhere for places to reduce spending, the forty-year-old bus grant is being considered for a cut. The national government spends about £450m a year on a fuel duty rebate for bus companies. This provides support for one of the most important modes of travel.

The ETA has stated many times that the national government should not feel responsible for providing bus services because essentially they are local in nature and should be provided and supported by county government, as it is in London.

However, given that by not ensuring that aviation pays its fair share of taxation, by taxing motoring very highly, by greatly subsidising rail and by doing little to promote cycling and walking, the national government has not provided a balanced approach to each of the travel modes.

Reducing or completely cutting the bus grant will simply make matters worse.