§ 42. Mr. Stottasked the Secretary of State for Transport what impact he expects the full deregulation of bus services on 25 January 1987 to have on fare levels.
§ 48. Mr. Cabornasked the Secretary of State for Transport by how much he expects the costs of public transport to change once the effects of over registration of commercial services under the Transport Act 1985 have been removed.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe long-term effect of introducing competition into local bus services will be to make their costs lower than they would otherwise have been. This saving will be split between the passenger and the ratepayer in varying proportion.
§ 45. Mr. Haynesasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is his estimate of the extent of over-registration of bus services under the Transport Act 1985.
§ 47. Mr. Easthamasked the Secretary of State for Transport what indications he has as to likely changes in the level of commercial registration of bus services after 25 January 1987.
§ Mr. David MitchellIt is now clear that there will be little change in the overall level of bus services on 26 January. Indeed, the number of new services registered to start on that date is larger than the number of services withdrawn.
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§ 50. Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the effects of the deregulation of the bus services under the Transport Act 1985.
§ Mr. David MitchellDeregulation and the introduction of competition have enabled local authorities overall to make substantial savings in subsidy to operators from the rates. Service levels have been broadly maintained with a few exceptions and improved in many places, particularly through the introduction of minibuses, which are now operating in over 150 towns and cities throughout the country.