§ 11. Mr. Strawasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received concerning the cost of providing bus services following deregulation of buses.
§ Mr. RidleyA precise figure is not available but many of the representations I have received about the deregulation of local bus services have made assumptions about the effect of the policy on the cost of providing services.
§ 13. Mr. Hefferasked the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations he has received about the effect on safety standards of the implementation of the Transport Bill.
§ Mr. David MitchellSome people suggested that safety standards might decline. In fact, provisions in the Bill will strengthen safety standards.
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§ 15. Mr. Pikeasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his assessment of the reduction in revenue support to bus transport expected to arise from the Transport Bill.
§ 17. Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has that local authority spending on bus services will fall, without a reduction in service, following deregulation of bus services.
§ 24. Mr. Torneyasked the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the effect on local authority expenditure on transport of bus deregulation.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe Transport Bill is not concerned with reducing local authority spending on revenue support.
§ 21. Mr. Frank Cookasked the Secretary of State for Transport what improvements to safety standards he expects to result from the enactment of the Transport Bill.
§ Mr. David MitchellMy right hon. Friend is determined to maintain and tighten safety standards. The Bill contains various provisions to achieve this, in particular,
In addition, the number of vehicle examiners will be increased.
- (a) Traffic commissioners will be able to disqualify unsatisfactory operators for an indefinite period.
- (b) Traffic commissioners will be able to require operators to run only specified vehicles.
- (c) Only two vehicles will be permitted on a restricted "O" licence.
- (d) All buses—not just public service vehicles—will be subject to spot checks and can be prohibited from further use until defects are put right.
23. Mr. Jim Callaghanasked the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with local authorities concerning the cost of providing bus services following deregulation of the buses.
§ Mr. David MitchellI have had a number of meetings with local authorities at which the implications of the policy have been discussed. I made clear the Government's view that overall the loss of cross-subsidy should be offset by the gains from more effective use of direct subsidy and by reduced operating costs.
§ 30. Mr. Roy Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has from the trial areas about the effect on safety standards of the deregulation of bus services.
§ Mr. David MitchellSafety standards have been maintained in the trial areas in Norfolk, Hereford and Worcester and Devon by the vigilance of the traffic commissioners and the vehicle examiners. The Transport Bill is designed to strengthen their powers.
§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has any evidence concerning the relationship between the size of bus operations and safety standards.
§ Mr. David MitchellI have no evidence that suggests there is any relationship between the size of bus operations and safety standards. Failure rates at annual test, although not a conclusive measure of safety standards, are not significantly different between private companies and the larger public sector operators.
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