§ 7. Dr. Marekasked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the latest assessment of the effect upon transport services in Wales of the operation of the Transport Act 1985.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe evidence available so far suggests that the new arrangements will help to check the decline in the bus industry and encourage the provision of public transport services better suited to the needs of passengers.
§ Dr. MarekDoes the Minister appreciate that there is great anxiety about the problem in Wales and that there is great apprehension that evening stage carriage services and the problems of bussing children to and from school will become much worse as a result of the Transport Act? If he does not agree that that will happen, what guarantees can he give on those two points?
§ Mr. RobertsThe hon. Gentleman is being unduly alarmist. He must consider the whole picture, not just of registered commercial services, but of the subsidised services as well. He will know that no county in Wales has yet evaluated the tenders for subsidised services, but they all seem confident that they will be able to buy additional services through the subsidy tender system, and that includes Clwyd. I understand that Clwyd proposed to award contracts on the basis of competitive tenders, including those for school transport.