MINISTER'S FIVE PENCE
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• I announced in Parliament today the rate of Rural Bus Grant that is to apply in 1987-88.
We have set a rate of 5p per bus mile for the Grant this year. We believe that the grant should have an important role as an incentive towards running local services in rural areas. It continues the special help that we introduced last year to operate during the early years of the new regime introduced by the 1985 Transport Act.
I want to do everything I can to make sure that all operators are aware of the
grant and the financial advantages of claiming it. I have been surprised to discover that a proportion of them either do not appreciate that the grant is available, or fail to claim it for some other reason. The amount of effort involved in claiming it is comparatively modest,
especially when set beside the financial benefit. The essential details to be filled in are already indicated on the form operators must complete and send to my Department to claim Fuel Duty Rebate.
I am sure that none of us would wish to see the rural areas deprived of what should be an important source of support. That is why 1 am writing to you to spread the word through the press which serves the bus industry. hope you will pass the message on.
David Mitchell Minister of State for Transport