§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many private operators are running express coach services; on what routes; and how many of these are in competition with services provided by the National Bus Company.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI am not collecting detailed information about coach services for which licences are no longer required. But it is estimated that since road service licensing for express services was abolished last October over 100 new express services have been started up, of which three quarters are by independent operators. No doubt many of these compete to a greater or lesser degree, with services provided by the National Bus Company.