§ Mr. SteinbergTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the number of registered bus companies for each year for 1979 to 1990.
322W
§ Mr. FreemanThe approximate numbers of bus and coach companies are as follows:
December 1979 5,600 1980 5,600 1981 5,500 1982 5,600 1983 6,000 1984 5,800 March 1986 5,800 1987 5,900 1988 5,900 1989 6,000 1990 6,200 These figures are based on the total number of PSV operators' licences issued by the traffic area offices. There is considerable uncertainty about the number of smaller operators because of the high rate at which such operators enter and leave the industry.