MANY of the bus services in Kent are run by Arriva.

Spokesman Malcolm Spalding answered the key questions about the company's bus services in the Sevenoaks area.

QWhat are the plans for bus services in the Sevenoaks area?

AFuture plans depend on changes in demand and we expect to make some changes as a result of the redevelopment of the West Kent Cold Store and expansion of Tesco, both at Dunton Green.

QHow many of the bus services in the Sevenoaks area are run as a profitable service and how many are subsidised?

AI am unable to comment on profitably levels but can tell you the 308, 401 and 421 and some journeys from Monday to Friday on the 431 and 432, along with all the Saturday services on the 431 and 432, are funded by Kent County Council.

QWhat are the barriers to providing more bus routes?

ABus services outside London are run on a commercial basis. Operators have to satisfy themselves, before introducing a new bus service or changing a bus service, that there is sufficient demand to cover all the costs.

Very few bus services in West Kent run commercially in the evenings and none in the Sevenoaks area because demand is too low. The county council has created criteria to help it determine when and where it funds bus services within the resources it has available.

QWith the Government and councils keen to encourage greater use of public transport, what is Arriva doing to encourage more people to use its service?

AWhile it is in our interests, as well as the population as a whole, to encourage travel by bus to reduce journeys, particularly by car, we can only do so if there is a satisfactory business case.

We endeavour to provide as frequent a service as we can and will concentrate our resources where they will be most used.

QWhat impact have free bus passes for pensioners and the Kent Freedom Pass for teenagers had on bus use in Kent?

AThe availability of free travel for certain age groups has increased the number of people travelling on buses.

The legislation covering the funding mechanisms of these schemes states that bus operators should be 'no better or worse off than if the scheme did not exist'.

This means that we are supposed to receive no more income with the scheme than without it other than any extra costs we may incur. From that you will understand the schemes do not, in themselves, encourage operators to provide extra services unless there is a need for extra capacity.

QA number of groups which represent the elderly have mentioned that some buses are hard for older people to get on and off.

What are the plans to introduce low-floor buses across all services?

ALegislation is in place to ensure low floor, wheelchair accessible buses are provided on local bus services by around 2016. We are working towards beating that target and currently our Tunbridge Wells depot, which provides the majority of the services in Sevenoaks, has two-thirds low floor buses.

Information about Arriva's services can be found via www.this iskent.co.uk/links or from Traveline on 0871 200 2233 or from timetables at libraries, bus stops and some shops.

Kent County Council helps fund some of the bus services in the district.

Spokesman Phil Scrivener answered questions about its involvement.

QThe county council has the local transport plan 2006-2011 which says the council has money for investment in public transport. How much money is there and how much is earmarked for Sevenoaks?

AThe Local Transport Plan includes an allocation each year (circa £10m countywide) for expenditure on so-called integrated transport schemes.

These schemes include measures to support public transport. Each year funding is allocated to schemes using a priority assessment formula. Of the total county council spend on supporting bus services (circa £8m countywide), the highest proportion (circa £1m) is spent on buses within Sevenoaks district.

QThe local transport plan has a target of increasing bus use by two per cent on 2003/4 levels. How is that target being met?

AAs part of the new Transport Strategy for Sevenoaks we are aiming to develop a Quality Bus Partnership with the main bus operator Arriva.

QHow many of the services in the Sevenoaks area are funded by the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant, as they are not profitable? Is there scope for increasing funding through that to improve the service and encourage more passengers?

ARBG is included within the £1m mentioned above. This is set by Government and increases barely keep pace with inflation.

QWill the Kent Freedom Pass be extended to Sevenoaks?

AYes it will be launched for young people in years Seven to 11 attending schools within Sevenoaks district in June 2009.