§ Mr. RosindellTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how he is ensuring improvements in off-peak frequency of bus services. [79080]
§ Mr. JamiesonAround 82 per cent. of bus services outside London are provided commercially and it is for the operators of those services to decide upon appropriate frequencies. Local authorities have powers to subsidise enhanced services outside peak hours.
For rural areas local authorities can use their allocations from the Government's Rural Bus Subsidy Grant (RBSG) to fund off-peak services. RBSG allocations total £47.5 million in 2002–03, rising to £48.5 million in 2003–04.
In London, where local transport is the responsibility of the Mayor, most routes now operate seven days a week and are sufficiently frequent throughout the day to allow passengers to use the network on a "turn-up-and go" basis. Routes operating at low frequency are regularly reviewed to see whether higher frequencies are worthwhile.