§ 32. Mr. MorleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the level of passenger transport demand for bus services since deregulation.
§ Mr. PortilloSince deregulation bus mileage is up sharply and operator costs are down. Local authorities outside London are spending some £100 million less a year on subsidy. Historically there has been a steep decline in bus patronage and this trend has continued. For example, in Great Britain outside London, patronage fell by 7 per cent. between 1985–86 and 1986–87. I believe, however, that with deregulation the industry now has a chance of modifying that long-term trend.
§ 34. Mr. Nicholas BennettTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the number of passengers carried and the number of route miles operated following the deregulation of bus services in England and Wales.
§ Mr. PortilloStatistics on the number of route miles operated are not compiled, but bus mileage is up sharply and the bulk of it is registered as commercial. In Great Britain (outside London) the number of passengers carried fell by 7 per cent. between 1985–86 and 1986–87, continuing a long-term trend.