GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR BUSES IN CUMBRIA

That this House is concerned at the continuing reductions in Government support for rural buses in Cumbria which have seen a loss of £340,000 in subsidy since 2006; asks the Government to indicate as soon as possible whether there will be grant regime to replace the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant and if so, to state what level of funding will be available as well as the conditions which will be attached to this grant and what types of service a replacement grant regime would support; calls on the Government to recognise that lack of transport in rural areas is one of the greatest causes of social exclusion; and believes that funding support for buses in Cumbria should be restored to the levels of 2006.