§ Mr. StringerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the percentage of the 1 per cent. increase in bus passengers which has resulted from passengers changing their mode of transport. [81716]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe information does not exist for this estimate to be made. The one per cent. overall increase is the net result of many shifts and changing trends in trip making. However, in some cases where significant increases in bus use have occurred, for example following investment in new vehicles and bus priority traffic management measures, 10 per cent. or more of the increase has been estimated to represent former car users. Were this also to apply to the full year increase across England it would represent a reduction of about 3.5 million journeys by car.
§ Mr. StringerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will estimate the number of local bus passenger journeys in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98 and (d) 1998–99 in (i) London, (ii) English metropolitan areas, (iii) English shire counties and (iv) England. [81714]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe figures up to 1997–98 are taken from tables 10, 13 and 16 of the Transport Statistics Report "Focus on Public Transport Great Britain: 1999630W edition", published by The Stationery Office in February 1999. The most recent three years' data are summarised in the table below. Data for 1998–99 will not be available until towards the end of this year.
Local bus services: passenger journeys by area million London English metropolitan areas English shire counties England 1995–96 1,205 1,292 1,265 3,762 1996–97 1,242 1,246 1,265 3,753 1997–98 1,294 1,237 1,248 3,779