§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what(a) statutory powers and (b) financial options he exercises in respect of the conditions pertaining to bus design on routes let by tender by London Transport Buses to private route operators; and what discussions he has had with London Transport Buses concerning the continued use of the Routemaster bus in central London[5654]
§ Mr. BowisThe manufacture of Routemaster was brought to an end by the actions of the then Minister of Transport in 1968. Currently, Ministers have no specific powers on bus design for buses of operators franchised to run bus services in London. These are matters for London Transport, which has made it clear that it expects to see Routemasters continue on routes particularly in central London, so long as they remain available and in good condition.