§ Mr. ChaytorTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many individual journeys provided by bus operators in the north west traffic area were cancelled without notice during (i) 1994–95, (ii) 1995–96 and (iii) 1996–97; and what percentage of total journeys these figures represent. [33959]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonMy Department does not collect this information in the form requested. However, under the provisions of the Transport Act 1985 bus operators are required to run services in accordance with the details they register with the local Traffic Commissioner, whose staff monitor compliance on a random basis. Details are not available for 1994–95 and 1995–96 but the results of 22 monitoring exercises carried out in the north west traffic area in 1996–97 and 54 in 1997–98 to date, show that the number of individual journeys which failed to run was a negligible proportion, less than 3 per cent. of total bus journeys in the area. In view of local concerns, the traffic area office are planning further monitoring exercises in the area including Greater Manchester.