Bus Licensing (Rural Areas) (Hansard, 1 December 1976)

§ 28. Mr. Peter Mills
asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement on bus licensing regulations in rural areas.

§ 17. Mr. Hannam
asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will make a statement on bus licensing regulations in rural areas.

§ Mr. Speaker
No. 28; Mr. Mills.

Hon. Members
Answer.

§ Mr. Mills
Shall I answer the Question for the Minister?

§ Mr. Speaker
It was to have been answered with Question No. 17. Perhaps the Minister will look it up.

§ Mr. Horam
We went through so many Questions so fast that we left out No. 17. The Government's rural transport experiments, with the Bill I propose to introduce as soon as opportunity arises, will test the case for amendment of bus licensing law.

§ Mr. Mills
Is the Minister aware that that is not good enough? The Government have had two and a half years to do something about rural transport, but they have done nothing. Is not this another example of their lack of concern for rural areas? Will the Government do something as quickly as possible? The problem is serious and flexibility is required.

§ Mr. Horam
On the contrary. The policy was issued for consultation only in January this year. That is less than 12 months ago and since then we have had valuable consultations. Further proposals will be contained in a Bill providing for rural experiments and the relaxation of licences in experimental areas. I hope that experiments will begin at Easter, and there will be a period of about 18 months during which we can find out about the experiments. Delay is involved, but if we want something sensible and lasting we must experiment before we commit ourselves to new measures.

§ Mr. Norman Fowler
Does the Minister accept that what the Government are proposing is too little and too late? Does he recognise that the present licensing procedure is preventing good services? Is there not now an overwhelming case for a fundamental reform of the system of traffic commissioners?

§ Mr. Horam
On the contrary. Licensing may well inhibit experiments with unconventional services which could be part of the answer to the problem. But it also protects existing stage services. It would be foolish to abandon them without some idea of what will happen. We are entering the dark. Many other countries—America is one—have abandoned licensing wholesale and the result has been no stage services and worse rural transport. This is a case for proceeding slowly.

§ Mr. Mills
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek an early opportunity to raise the matter on the Adjournment.