§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to re-regulate in any material way the operations of bus companies. [41273]
§ Mr. NorrisI have no such proposals. I am considering, with the help of the bus working group, which I am chairing with the bus industry, local authority associations and the users, what sensible measures might be introduced to assist buses within the deregulated framework.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport which five cities have the largest municipally owned or controlled bus companies in the United Kingdom. [41329]
§ Mr. NorrisIn terms of vehicle numbers including tramcars, the five largest local authority-owned bus companies, in descending order, are: Lothian RT, Nottingham, Blackpool, Cardiff and Reading.
§ Mr. PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the proposed sales of municipal bus companies to which he withheld his consent; and if he will give reasons in each case. [41270]
§ Mr. NorrisConsent for the proposed sale of a municipal bus company has in some cases been withheld because the method of sale did not meet the requirement that public assets must be sold by means of a competitive tender. It would not be appropriate to provide details of these cases as they are commercially sensitive.
§ Mr. PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 24 October,Official Report, column 579, if he will make it his policy to monitor changes of ownership within the bus industry where this involves the onward sale of a
756W
Number of heavy goods vehicles, public service vehicles, private and light goods vehicles inspected and the number of vehicles prohibited at roadside 'spot' checks over the past five years Vehicle type Number of vehicles inspected Number of vehicles prohibited Percentage 1990–91 Heavy goods vehicles 108,204 17,014 15.7 Public service vehicles 20,713 1,125 10.5 company after a management-employee buy out for a local authority. [41307]
§ Mr. NorrisNo.