MP questions threat to rural bus services

22.07.2010  The MP for West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Andrew George, questioned his Liberal Democrat colleague and Bus Minister, Norman Baker MP, in the Commons today about the future of the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) this morning.

There are concerns amongst operators of buses, particularly in rural areas where the sustainability of the service is marginal, that this autumn's budget cuts might include a significant reduction in Government support for scheduled services.  Some operators have privately warned that this could result in a dramatic cut in available bus services and that many buses which serve remoter rural areas in places like Cornwall would be at serious risk of being lost.

Mr Baker in his response to Mr George said that he shared the St Ives MP's concern and that they would be looking very carefully at the possible consequences of a budget cut.

Mr George said, "It is really important that Ministers are made aware of just how damaging a cut in the Bus Service Operators Grant would be.  Obviously there will be a lot of further discussions and, no doubt, internal departmental turf wars and I wish Norman Baker well in his attempts to fight to protect this important public service which serves some of the most marginalised in our society."