§ 34. Colonel APPLINasked the Minister of Transport how many non-combine omnibuses have been absorbed by the London General Omnibus Company during the past year; whether, in these cases, the same rate of passenger fare has been maintained after the absorption; and whether, on any route, there is a discrepancy between the fares charged by the London General Omnibus Company in their regulation omnibuses and the rates charged in the late privately-owned omnibuses?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe number of independently-owned omnibuses in which the London General Omnibus Company have now acquired a controlling interest is 207. This covers a period of about 18 months. The fares charged on these omnibuses have been adjusted to accord with those charged on the rest of the London General Omnibus Company omnibuses. I am informed that 937 alterations have been made in the fare boards of these vehicles. In 476 cases the fares have been increased and in 461 cases they have been reduced. In addition, facilities, such as exchange tickets for omnibus and rail, return tickets, etc., afforded to passengers using London General Omnibus Company omnibuses, have been extended to passengers travelling on the acquired omnibuses.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENDoes not the right hon. Gentleman see that the result of the London Transport Act has been to give a monopoly to the combine without getting anything in return?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI do not think any acquisition of independent omnibuses by the London General Omnibus Company has anythng to do with the Transport Act.
Major CRAWFURUCould the right hon. Gentleman give any indication of the volume of traffic on those routes where there has been a decrease and of the volume of traffic on those routes where there has been an increase?
§ Colonel ASHLEYNo, I have no statistics to show that.