§ Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the maximum permitted number of passengers is that can be carried on a scheduled(a) 48 seater and (b) 53 seater bus if all the passengers are aged under 14 years. [17871]
§ Mr. JamiesonProvided that the scheduled bus is not equipped with seat belts and has seats fitted in pairs, under the three for two rule, it would be possible to carry(a) in a 48 seat bus, 72 seated passengers under the age of fourteen plus any standees that are permitted and (b) in a 53 seater bus, 79 seated passengers under the age of fourteen plus any permissible standees. However, in practice it is likely that the vehicles will be fitted with more than one single seat so the totals in that case would be less.
§ Mr. EdwardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will list the investigations by the Vehicles Inspectorate into breaches of regulations concerning(a) scheduled and (b) private bus and coach operators in (i) 2000 and (ii) 2001. [17877]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Vehicle Inspectorate's data identify the operators of public service vehicles (PSVs), but the records do not differentiate between the operators of scheduled, private bus and coach services. In 1999–2000 investigations carried out by the Vehicle616W Inspectorate into breaches of the traffic regulations by operators and drivers led to 623 cases being taken to court covering a total of 1,633 offences. In 2000–01 the number of cases was 578, which covered 1,753 offences.