HC Deb 29 March 1985 vol 76 cc809-10 9.35 am
Mr. Alfred Morris (Manchester, Wythenshawe)

I beg leave to present two important petitions about the Government's policies on buses. One is the first instalment of a petition by the National Joint Council of Transport Users Committees for the six metropolitan counties of England. The petition, sent to me by Councillor Joe Clarke of Atherton in Lancashire, Councillor Tony Burns of Manchester and Mr. J. C. G. Lewis, secretary of the National Joint Council of Transport Advisory Committees for the six metropolitan counties, among others, states: That Transport Users Committees representing over 14 million local bus and rail users with advice from about 200 local groups ranging from the local CBI and Trades Councils to Age Concern and disabled people's organisations, as well as Townswomen's Guilds and the National Association of Women's Clubs in the six Metropolitan Counties have examined the White Paper on Buses. That they fear that, if implemented, the White Paper will mean:—

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  1. (a) concessionary fares for elderly, disabled and other people in special need, including schoolchildren, could disappear.
  2. (b) that the strict safety standards needed for public service vehicles will not be upheld.
  3. (c) that continuity, reliability and stability of services will end.
  4. (d) many bus and rail services will vanish.
  5. (e) the few services that are left will no longer link and services will become less frequent.
  6. (f) passengers will not know which services should run at what times, or what fares are to be charged.
  7. (g) operators will compete with old, unsuitable buses and coaches.
  8. (h) neither Users nor Ratepayers will have any say about their local public transport services.
That there are wider aspects to the proposals. The ratepayers' considerable investments in the Metropolitan Counties on bus and rail facilities and improvements will be thrown away. Fewer new buses will be bought. This will mean more unemployment in the bus building industry. Socially needed transport services will be put under pressure. Highway costs, road accidents and congestion will increase. Business and the community as a whole will suffer. That the User Groups believe Public Transport is needed as a social service. The proposals of the White Paper would destroy both. Wherefore your Petitioners pray that your honourable House reject any legislation to implement the proposals of the White Paper on buses. And your Petitioners will ever pray &c.

To lie upon the Table.

Mr. Morris

The second petition, in the same terms, has been sent to me by the secretary, Jim Bradford, of the Wythenshawe Pensioners Association in my constituency, where the importance of buses can be judged from the fact that over 60 per cent. of the households are without a car.

The message of both petitions is one of compelling importance and urgency for tens of thousands of my constituents and millions of others. I most warmly commend them to the House.

To lie upon the Table.