Minister says First COULD subsidise less economic bus routes

The debate in Parliament today, led by Steve Webb, raised some interesting points.

First Bus says they're not allowed to subsidise less economic routes from their profitable ones - but the Government doesn't agree. Transport Minister Paul Clark said he didn't know any legal reason why this should be so.

The Minister also said that Councils should get powers to force companies to run routes and to cap fares by the end of the year - if of course South Glos are willing to take up the challenge.

More detail on Steve Webb's blog

Also see the web page for the "Save Our Buses in South Gloucestershire" campaign

P.S. We've just heard that Steve Webb will be talking about this on Radio Bristol at 7.30 am tomorrow morning (Wednesday 6 May)