§ Bob SpinkTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what steps he will take to secure better integration of bus and rail services. [28129]
§ Mr. Spellar[holding answer 17 January 2002]Our 10-Year Plan makes a commitment to looking at transport as a whole, matching solutions to specific problems.
The Strategic Rail Authority's new Strategic Plan describes a number of examples of better integration which are being taken forward and how further progress will be made. Copies of the Strategic Plan are available in the Library of the House.
The UK transport industry has developed "Journey Solutions", aimed at promoting and improving integration between bus and train. They aim to showcase the best examples of integration across the country as models from which further schemes can be developed.
At the local level, local authorities, within their five-year local transport plans and bus strategies, have been asked to consider the important contribution that better interchange can make in improving local transport provision. Our guidance to authorities makes clear the need for authorities, in conjunction with their local partners and the transport operators, to provide improvements to both infrastructure and services which can bring about better interchange between different modes of transport.