§ Mr. Fryasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ask the Transport and Road Research Laboratory to update its report on recent developments in commuter coaching.
§ Mr. EyreThe Transport and Road Research Laboratory is continuing its studies of the developments in commuter coaching following the Transport Act 1980, and a report is planned when these studies are complete.
§ Mr. Fryasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the effects of the Transport Act 1980 on commuter coach services.
§ Mr. EyreSince the Transport Act 1980 commuter coach services on which all passengers travel a distance of at least 30 miles have no longer required road service licences. Operators have therefore been free to run such services where they think there is a demand and licences for shorter services have been easier to get. Both private and public sectors of the coaching industry have seized the opportunities offered by the Act to provide a substantial number of commuters as well as other travellers with cheap, comfortable and convenient alternatives to the services previously available.