HC Deb 30 March 2004 vol 419 cc1322-3W
Mr. Redwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what figures he uses for the cost of(a) a bendy bus and (b) a conventional double decker bus when calculating grants to local authorities for their transport plans. [164833]

Dr. Howells

Allocations for local transport funding in England (outside London) are calculated to reflect the achievement of each local transport authority in delivering the aims and objectives in its Local Transport Plan. Information on the type of buses used by local operators does not form part of the calculation.

Mr. Redwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) British built and (b) German built buses have caught fire and burnt out in the last year in the UK [164149]

Dr. Howells

We only have records relating to six incidents in 2003—these were cases where the police asked for the Department to help with investigations.

Five of these cases involved British-built vehicles, and all were caused by maintenance defects.

We have no record of any German-built vehicles being involved in fires during 2003.

Mr. Redwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what regulatory action he is proposing to improve safety on bendy buses. [164146]

Dr. Howells

We do not as yet know exactly what has caused the problems with these buses, so it is too early to speculate on whether any additional regulatory action may be necessary.

We are monitoring the situation closely and will be reviewing the situation both with the vehicle manufacturers and the bus operators. In the meantime all the potentially at-risk vehicles have been taken out of service pending the completion of remedial work.

Mr. Redwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the most recent average occupancy figure is of the London bendy buses. [164147]

Dr. Howells

The average number of passengers travelling at any one time in an articulated "bendy bus" in London was 24, when surveyed by Transport for London in mid 2003.

Mr. Redwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many seats a London bendy bus has. [164148]

Dr. Howells

The articulated "bendy buses" on services in London have 49 passenger seats. There is also provision for a passenger in a wheelchair.