HC Deb 13 December 1991 vol 200 c556W
Mr. Bowis

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many routes that have been put out to tender by London Buses Ltd. have been won by private bus operators.

Mr. Freeman

Of London Transport's 529 existing bus routes, 223 have been contracted out by competitive tender; 100 are run by private bus operators, and 123 by London Buses Ltd. Subsidiaries.

Mr. Bowis

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what would be the cost of setting up a new bus executive for London.

Mr. Freeman

No estimates have yet been made of the costs involved in setting up a new London bus executive. However, the Government see no reason why the cost of establishing a new executive should be significantly greater or less than the cost of other options canvassed in our consultation paper "A Bus Strategy for London".

Mr. Bowis

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to publish the responses received to his consultation paper, "A Bus Strategy for London", how many responses were received and from whom; what was the proportion supporting and opposing the creation of a new bus executive for London; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman

We received just over 200 official responses to the consultation paper "A Bus Strategy for London". A list of respondents has already been placed in the Library. It is not the Government's intention to publish responses. There was more support amongst respondents for creating a passenger transport authority for London or for designating London Transport as bus authority than there was for the creation of a non-departmental public body. However, with very few exceptions, those who advocated either of the former approaches were also opposed to deregulation. The creation of a new London bus executive will give London a body dedicated to bus activities, without distraction, and without any potential conflict of interest.