§ 64. Mr. Ralph HowellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the vehicle mileage increase on private sector bus routes since deregulation.
§ Mr. PortilloBetween 1985–86 and 1988–89, there was an increase from 168 million to 1,241 million in the vehicle kilometres run by private operators on local services outside London.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress his Department has made towards the deregulation of buses in London.
§ Mr. PortilloWe have already moved some way towards deregulation by splitting London Buses Ltd. into smaller operating subsidiaries, by promoting the extension of competitive tendering on London Regional Transport bus routes and by enhancing the opportunities for private operators to introduce their own routes under the London local service licensing system. The timetable for full deregulation has yet to be set.