§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the arrangements for checking increases in costs of tenders for bus services; what the percentage change in tender costs to local authorities in the North West for bus services has been over the last five years; and what arrangements are in place to ensure that local authorities can specify(a) times, (b) frequencies, (c) routes, (d)fares and(e) standards of bus journey. [132560]
§ Mr. McNultyWe keep a close watch on increased tender prices through our own research and the regular survey by the Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers. We also have frequent discussions with local authorities, for example through the Bus Partnership Forum, about funding of bus services.
Our information is that the prices for contracts let in the North West region in 2002–03 were on average around 17 per cent. above the price when the contract was last let (typically two to three years before). There was significant variation between authorities within the region. Information is not available for the region for contracts let in previous years.
In using their subsidy powers under the Transport Act 1985, local authorities may specify contract conditions on all the aspects listed at (a) to (e). About 17 per cent. of local bus services are provided under these powers.
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the(a) local authorities and (b) bus companies which use CCTV (i) on buses, (ii) at bus stops and (iii) on buses and at bus stops, listing the (A) the number of attacks reported and (B) the cost of vandalism (1) 12 months before and (2) after implementation; and if he will make a statement; [133947]
(2)what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to improve lighting at bus stops; and if he will make a statement; [133948]
(3)if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies that have improved lighting at bus stops, providing details of (i) the number of attacks reported and (ii) the cost of vandalism (A) 12 months before and (B) after implementation; and if he will make a statement; [133949]
(4)what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to cut back vegetation at bus stops; and if he will make a statement; [133950]
(5)if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies that have cut back vegetation at bus stops, listing (i) the number of attacks reported and (ii) the cost of vandalism (A) 12 months before and (B) after implementation; and if he will make a statement; [133951]
677W(6)what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to employ full-time schools liaison officers to tackle anti-social behaviour on buses; and if he will make a statement; [134019]
(7)if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies which have employed full-time schools liaison officers to tackle anti-social behaviour; what estimate he has made of the cost of vandalism (i) before and (ii) after the scheme was set up; and if he will make a statement. [134020]
§ Mr. McNultyIn April 2002 the Department published "Get on board: an agenda for improving personal security in bus travel", including guidance and good practice case studies on measures that can be taken by bus companies and local authorities. This included advice on the use of CCTV on buses and at bus stations, the need for good lighting at bus stops, the need to ensure that bus stops and shelters should be kept unobscured by vegetation and on employing schools liaison officers.
The Government have established the Safer Travel on Buses and Coaches Panel (STOP), bringing together bus operators, local authorities, police, unions, and other stakeholders to exchange and disseminate good practice in tackling problems caused by crime and anti-social behaviour around bus and coach travel. It is currently updating the booklet "Protecting Bus and Coach Crews". This includes advice on CCTV, good lighting and links with schools.
In its recent publication "Travelling to School: an action plan", the Government ask schools and local authorities to work with the police, bus operators and the local community to promote positive behaviour by pupils on their journey to and from school.
Data on the extent to which bus companies and local authorities have applied measures such as CCTV, better lighting, cutting back vegetation and working with schools and their effect on incidences of vandalism, assaults and anti-social behaviour are not collected centrally. While the Government provide advice on good practice, its implementation is a matter for operators and local authorities.
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures have been taken to encourage(a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to widen pavements at bus stops on busy streets; and if he will make a statement. [133952]
§ Mr. McNultyIt is for local highway authorities to ensure that footways are suited to the surroundings and pedestrian numbers. The Department has published Local Transport Note 1/97 "Keeping Buses Moving", and "Inclusive Mobility—A Guide to Best Practice on Access to Pedestrian and Transport Infrastructure". These give some advice on local build-outs of the footway at bus stops (sometimes called "bus stop boarders") and recommendations for footway widths at bus stops.
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what measures have been taken to encourage(a) local authorities and (b) bus companies 678W to offer free travel for under-16s on buses when accompanied by an adult; and if he will make a statement; [134017]
(2) if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies which offer free travel for under-16s on buses when accompanied by an adult; how many passengers under 16 were carried (i) before, and (ii) after implementation; and if he will make a statement. [134018]
§ Mr. McNultyThere have been no measures to encourage local authorities and bus companies to offer free travel for under-16s on buses when accompanied by an adult. Free travel to and from school is provided by local education authorities under the education acts for school children up to the age of 16 living more than the statutory walking distances from school. Under the Transport Act 1985 local authorities have a discretionary power to provide concessionary travel for children of school age. That power applies to all journeys, not just those to or from school.
We do not collect information on what bus companies offer for this age group nor on how many passengers under 16 were carried before and after implementation of any discount schemes.
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what measures have been taken to encourage(a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to implement travel training courses for bus travel for the (i) elderly and (ii) disabled; and if he will make a statement; [134022]
(2) if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies which have implemented a travel training scheme; how many (i) elderly and (ii) people with disabilities have attended; and if he will make a statement. [134023]
§ Mr. McNultyWe recognise the value of travel training and familiarisation for older and disabled people. Over the last year, for example, we have been monitoring a programme at a school in Yorkshire to help young people with learning disabilities to be able to travel on mainstream services. We aim to publish guidance on the lessons learnt in that programme for wider dissemination.
We currently have no formal schemes in place to promote such activity within the bus industry or within local authorities. We do, however, take every opportunity to promote such initiatives in discussions with them.
There is no centrally held data on individual schemes that have been introduced.
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the(a) local authorities and (b) bus companies that have widened pavements at bus stops on busy roads, providing details of the number of pedestrian casualties (i) 12 months before and (ii) after implementation; and if he will make a statement. [134098]
§ Mr. McNultyThis is a matter for local highway authorities. The Department does not hold data on which local authorities have widened pavements at bus stops on busy roads, nor on pedestrian casualties at those locations.
679W
§ Mr. Don FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what measures have been taken to encourage(a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to introduce low-floor buses; and if he will make a statement; [134105]
(2) if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies that have introduced low-floor buses; how many (i) passengers were carried, (ii) disabled passengers were carried (A) before and (B) after implementation and (iii) services have been run; and if he will make a statement. [134114]
§ Mr. McNultyIn recent years, low-floor buses have been introduced in increasing numbers. This change was promoted both by the Department, through a series of research and demonstration projects, and by our statutory advisers, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee, who produced a recommended specification for low-floor buses which they disseminated widely.
Since 31 December 2000, all new buses and coaches over 7.5 tonnes and with a carrying capacity of more than 22 passengers, which have been introduced on local and scheduled services, have had to meet the access requirements of the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000. Those Regulations, which were made under the Disability discrimination Act 1995, set down minimum access requirements for vehicles to address the needs of disabled people, including wheelchair users. The Regulations do allow for high-floor vehicles, but in the case of full size single deck and double deck buses, production has now moved to low-floor designs.
About one-third of full size local buses are now low-floor.
There are no centrally held statistics about bus patronage before and after introduction of low-floor vehicles. However, from the research which the Department carried out it, was clear that people were able to board and alight from these vehicles more easily, and that with the elimination of steps in the entrance, many more elderly and disabled people would be able to use buses and to use them for longer.
Of course, having the right vehicle is only part of the solution. We have also made changes to the Public Service Vehicles (Conduct of Drivers, Inspectors, Conductors and Passengers) Regulations to introduce new duties on drivers to provide reasonable assistance to disabled passengers. The Department is also working with TransFed—the training body for the bus industry—to update their NVQ disability awareness training material for bus drivers.