§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how he intends to improve the enforcement of bus priority schemes. [91496]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonBus priority measures are important for helping to make bus services quicker and more reliable. Their implementation is the responsibility of the local highway authority which should liaise with the local police on their enforcement.
Trials of enforcement cameras for bus lanes have been carried out successfully in London. This involves prosecuting offenders using camera evidence. Cameras will be installed across London over the next few years. Further trials using existing CCTV cameras are also being undertaken.
342WOutside London we are encouraging local authorities to take up decriminalised parking enforcement powers. This would enable them to target parking offences that affect the operation of bus priority schemes.
We hope to see a wider use of these approaches to improve enforcement.
§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what discussions his Department is holding with bus and coach manufacturers on developing vehicles to cater for the needs of elderly and disabled people. [91774]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonBus and coach manufacturers have been closely involved in discussions with my Department over the past two years on the development of standards for accessibility that will form the basis of the regulations we will be bringing forward under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
In addition to a large number of one to one meetings with manufacturers, there has been an extensive round of informal consultation on the proposals. There will shortly be a further round of consultation on the final proposals and the draft regulations which will come into effect from next year.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many bus journeys were made on local stage bus journeys in English shire counties in the year 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [91728]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonEstimates of bus passenger journeys in 1998–99 will be published later this year. The latest available estimate shows that 1.25 billion passenger journeys were made on local, or stage, bus services in English shire counties in 1997–98. Our bus policy proposals, together with additional funding for rural transport, are aimed at better bus provision and increased bus use.