Date of Answer: 30.06.2010

Column References: 512 c552W

Member Tabling Question: McKinnell, Catherine

Topic: Bus Services: Newcastle upon Tyne

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the likely effects of proposed reductions in the transport budget on the quality of bus services in Newcastle-upon-Tyne North.

Answering Department: Department for Transport

Member Answering Question: Baker, Norman

Answer: It is for local authorities to decide where their priorities and opportunities for efficiencies lie across the totality of their responsibilities, in order to protect front line services. The fact that certain grants have been chosen for reduction over others does not indicate that Government are imposing a national view on the relative importance of different areas. Nor do the Government expect there to be a direct correlation between grant reductions and local authority budget changes.

Question Number: 3605

Date Tabled: 16.06.2010

Date for Answer: 21.06.2010