HC Deb 18 December 1967 vol 756 cc297-9W
Mr. Michael Heseltine

asked the Minister of Transport which local authorities will be consulted on the delineation of the areas to be covered by the Greater Manchester, Merseyside, West Midlands and Tyneside Passenger Transport Authorities, respectively.

Mr. Swingler:

Clause 9(2) of the Transport Bill provides for the Minister to consult with all county councils, county borough councils and county district councils whose areas fall wholly or partly within an area to be designated and also those councils whose areas are continuous with the area to be designated.

Mr. Michael Heseltine

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what calculations she has made to indicate the capital requirements of the Greater Manchester, Merseyside, West Midlands and Tyneside Passenger Transport Authorities, respectively, in equipping themselves for the business of providing tours and excursions;

(2) what calculations she has made to indicate the capital requirements of the Greater Manchester, Merseyside, West Midlands and Tyneside Passenger Transport Authorities, respectively, in equipping themselves for the business of hiring out buses and cars;

(3) what estimate she has made of the profits which will flow from the hiring out of buses and cars by the Greater Manchester, Merseyside, West Midlands and Tyneside Passenger Transport Authorities, respectively, in the first, second and third year of operation;

(4) what estimate she has made of the profits which will flow from the provision of all facilities needed to complement the basic public transport system by the Greater Manchester, Merseyside, West Midlands and Tyneside Passenger Transport Authorities, respectively, in the first, second and third year of operation;

(5) what estimates she has made of the profits which will flow from the operation of tours and excursions by the Greater Manchester, Merseyside, West Midlands and Tyneside Passenger Transport Authorities, respectively, in the first, second and third year of operation.

Mr. Swingler:

The powers to operate tours and excursions, hire out buses and cars, and provide facilities needed to complement the basic transport system which is proposed in the Transport Bill for Passenger Transport Executives, are permissive. Each Executive will be able to decide for itself what services and facilities to provide, subject to obtaining the permission of the Traffic Commissioners where necessary and to any limits imposed under the legislation.

Mr. Michael Heseltine

asked the Minister of Transport what representations she has received from the Transport and General Workers union on the level of wages and conditions of employment in the areas to be covered by the Greater Manchester, Merseyside, West Midlands and Tyneside Passenger Transport Authorities, respectively.

Mr. Swingler:

The Transport and General Workers Union and the other trade unions concerned have discussed with my right hon. Friend various matters relating to the employment of their members by Passenger Transport Executives.

Mr. Michael Heseltine

asked the Minister of Transport (1) at what rate it is intended to replace the existing buses with one-man buses in the Greater Manchester, Merseyside, West Midlands and Tyneside Passenger Transport Authorities, respectively;

(2) what calculations she has made, in preparing her proposals for the reorganisation of transport, of the cost of changing over the existing bus fleets in the Greater Manchester, Merseyside, West Midlands and Tyneside areas, respectively, to one-man operation.

Mr. Swingler:

The replacement rate of vehicle and the extent of one-man operation will be a matter for each Passenger Transport Executive and other bus operators to determine, taking into account local operating circumstances and the scope for improving efficiency by these means. The cost of replacement will vary according to the number and types of vehicles involved. The proposals for new bus grants in the Transport Bill are intended to assist undertakings in this respect.

Mr. Michael Heseltine

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of her proposed legislation, what estimate she has made of the capacity which exists in the Greater Manchester, Merseyside, West Midlands and Tyneside areas to carry more passengers on public bus transport than at present in the morning and evening rush-hour periods.

Mr. Swingler:

In terms of the number of buses available the capacity exists already, but because of rush hour congestion it cannot often be exploited to the full. In most urban areas significant improvements in bus movement can only be achieved if systematic traffic and parking control measures are adopted by the local authorities concerned.

In the statement of their policies which the Transport Bill provides for a Passenger Transport Authority and Executive to make after the first year of the Authority's existence, we are proposing there should be included an item on machinery for securing co-ordination between the planning and operation of bus services and the plans and policies of local authorities for traffic regulation and parking.