§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce measures to ensure that deregulated bus companies are required to provide local services until at least 10 pm; and if he will make a statement. [24057]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonMy right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce measures to regulate service provision. It is for bus operators to decide, on the basis of commercial viability, which services will be provided. Local authorities may, however, subsidise routes which
474W
Local Authority1 Scottish Homes2 Housing Associations3 Housing Co-operative3 Private Rented4 Owner Occupied4 Owner Occupied4 (i) Renfrew 27,524 4,391 2,262 0 2,088 42,221 (ii) Eastwood 1,602 10 95 0 654 20,475 they consider are socially necessary, including off-peak and late-night services.
§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the impact of deregulated bus services in Scotland, particularly in relation to evening and late-night services; and if he will make a statement. [24056]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonAn independent study of the effect of privatisation and deregulation on the former Scottish Bus Group companies was commissioned by the Scottish Office from the transport operations research group at Newcastle university. The TORG report was published in 1993 and concluded that deregulation of the bus industry in Scotland has stimulated competition, increased efficiency and made more cost-effective the provision of socially necessary services, including off-peak and late-night services.