§ Mr. David Howellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria the traffic commissioners apply in deciding whether to grant a licence to private operators who wish to operate a bus service complementary to existing road and rail services.
§ Mr. MarksThe traffic commissioners decide all applications for road services licences, or permits, in the light of the criteria laid down in Section 135 of the Road Traffic Act 1960 and Section 30 of the Transport Act 1968, respectively.
§ Mr. David Howellasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assistance he will provide towards the development of privately operated bus services 137W operating between the Surrey villages and London, bearing in mind the consequent reductions in savings in pressure on road space by the operation of private owned road vehicles.
§ Mr. MarksIt is the responsibility of the county council to take measures to ensure the provision of a public transport system to meet the needs of its area. My hon. Friend has accepted for Transport Supplementary Grant purposes the whole of Surrey County Council estimate of its expenditure on bus revenue support in 1976–77, and it is now for the county council to determine, in consultation with the bus operators, how best to allocate the resources which it is making available for bus revenue support.