§ Mr. Michael Heseltineasked the Minister of Transport if she will list the specific problems of severance and restrictions facing public transport travellers in each of the following areas, Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Newcastle, respectively.
§ Mr. Swingler:In these areas municipal and company bus services frequently overlap and complex working agreements are necessary. In some cases these agreements impose restrictions on boarding and alighting points and fare levels which prevent development of an economic pattern of services on an area basis. Other inconveniences include the absence of through-booking facilities in some areas and different conditions of carriage between operators.
§ Mr. Michael Heseltineasked the Minister of Transport if she will publish detailed costings indicating the estimated economies of management arising from the merging of the municipal bus undertakings in the Manchester, Liverpool, Birmingham and Newcastle areas, respectively.
§ Mr. Swingler:It will be for Passenger Transport Executives to organise their undertakings in units of the size they themselves think most suitable for efficient management. I have no doubt they will take advantage of the opportunities for economy that this offers.