§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the current scale of use of private mobile radios by the bus industry; and what are the likely effects on United Kingdom bus operational control and crew safety of the frequency alteration resulting from the world administrative radio conference of 1979 to which the United Kingdom was a signatory.
§ Mr. RidleyThe Bus and Coach Council estimates that some 16,000 buses owned by 50 undertakings are fitted with private mobile radios and that 14,000 of them will be affected by the frequency alterations. New equipment is required and must be phased in before 1995. The Bus and Coach Council is endeavouring to agree a standard radio specification for the bus industry in anticipation of the
£ million cash 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 Fuel duty rebate 1.513 1.340 2.296 1.486 2.762 2.869 2.908 3.141 *3.141 New bus grant 0.383 0.398 1.163 1.166 3.032 1.550 0.767 0.326 Nil Transport Supplementary Grant 9.992 10.700 12.037 18.780 20.022 25.537 30.546 30.688 26.628 TOTALS 11.888 12.438 15.496 21.432 25.816 29.956 34.221 34.155 29.769 * Estimate.