SPT's director of bus operations has called for improvements in rural transport provision.

Eric Stewart wants to see better use made of public funds to improve services.

Speaking at the Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) Conference in Edinburgh, he told delegates that the current DRT cost was "too high" at £7.46 per passenger, adding that the £3.3m budget to provide the service was "too low".

Mr Stewart added that it was imperative to run more trips for the same cost, or the same number of trips for less cost.

DRT is any kind of transport where day-to-day service provision is determined by the demand of the users.

It can include everything from specialist transport services taking people to and from hospitals and medical appointments, to minibus services to shopping centres, employment and a range of other social opportunities.

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