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28 Oct 2003 : Column 142W—continued
Aviation Fuel
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking in (a) European and (b) international forums to promote a common approach to imposing tax on aviation fuel. [133959]
Mr. McNulty: This matter was last raised internationally at the ICAO 33rd Assembly in 2001, when the overwhelming majority of States spoke out against the introduction of a tax on aviation fuel. Analysis by the European Commission has also suggested that an EU-wide tax would deliver minimal environmental benefit. However, the Government remain committed to finding alternative ways of applying the 'polluter pays' concept to civil aviation. Information is contained in the joint HM Treasury/Department for Transport discussion document "Aviation and the Environment: Using Economic Instruments", published in March 2003.
Bus Services
Mr. Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what conclusions he has reached following his review of fuel duty rebate for operators of bus services. [134266]
Mr. McNulty: The Chancellor's Budget statement in April 2003 announced that the review of bus subsidies would be continuing in the context of the review of the 10-year transport plan. This is being taken forward in line with Spending Review 2004 and is expected to conclude next summer.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 16 June 2003, Official Report, column 26W, on transport policies, what measures he has taken to disseminate good practice in the bus sector to (a) individual authorities, (b) bus companies, (c) regulators and (d) professional and trade bodies, including trade unions, listing the (i) cost, (ii) means of dissemination and (iii) what assessment has been made in each case; and if he will make a statement. [133985]
Mr. McNulty: The Department takes many measures to disseminate good practice in the bus sector, both
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alone and in partnership with other stakeholders. It is not possible to allocate costs and benefits in the form set out in the question.
For example, the Department has published:
- (a) good practice guidance on Quality Bus Partnerships, aimed at both local authorities and operators (2001); and
(b) "Get on Board: an Agenda for Improving Personal Security in Bus Travel" (April 2002), including guidance and best practice case studies on measures that can be taken by bus companies and local authorities concerning crime and anti-social behaviour in bus travel.
- (a) a report on Understanding Customer Needs, of value to both operators and local authorities;
(b) a code of conduct on Service Stability to encourage local authorities and operators to agree to limit timetable changes to specific dates; and
(c) an information pack, "Bus Priority: The Way Ahead", to help local authorities get the most out of bus priority measures.
The Department will shortly be publishing three further good practice guides:
- (a) "Rural Bus Service Provision", drawing on experience with Rural Bus Grant and the Rural Bus Challenge, and aimed at local authority officers and elected Members, transport operators and other local interest groups;
(b) guidance on local authority procurement of local bus services, replacing existing guidance published in 1999, and aimed chiefly at local authorities; and
(c) protecting bus and coach crews, updating the 1995 booklet which advises bus drivers and crews, operators and local authorities on measures they can take to reduce the incidence and fear of crime and anti-social behaviour in bus travel.
- (2) if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies involved in quality bus corridors, listing the (i) number of passengers carried (A) before and (B) after implementation, (ii) number of services run and (iii) length of the schemes involved; and if he will make a statement; [133987]
(3) what specific measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to enter into a quality bus partnership; and if he will make a statement; [134024]
(4) if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies which have entered into a quality bus partnership; how many passengers have been carried; how many services have been run; and if he will make a statement. [134025]
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Mr. McNulty: The Department provides funding to local authorities for bus priority measures such as quality bus corridors which, in 2002–03, put in place almost 900 kilometres of improved bus routes.
The Department has published Good Practice Guidance on Quality Bus Partnerships and has facilitated their provision on a statutory basis through powers in the Transport Act 2000, making them enforceable by traffic commissioners. Many such partnerships comprise one or more bus corridor improvements.
The Bus Partnership Forum has published an information pack, "Bus Priority: The Way Ahead", to help local authorities get the most out of bus priority measures including bus corridors.
Research shows that quality partnership schemes typically increase bus patronage by between 5 per cent. and 20 per cent. within the first 12 months of operation. These schemes also contribute towards modal shift, with surveys showing that around 33 per cent. of new users had previously undertaken their journey by car.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to simplify fare structures on buses to a flat-rate for all inner-city single journeys; and if he will make a statement; [133988]
- (2) if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies that have simplified their fare structure on buses to a flat-rate for all inner-city single journeys, listing (i) the number of passengers carried (A) before and (B) after implementation and (ii) the number of services run; and if he will make a statement. [133989]
Mr. McNulty: The setting of bus fares in a deregulated market is a matter of commercial decision for bus operators. The appropriateness of a flat-rate fare system (with concessions for those statutorily entitled to them) will depend on the size of the urban area concerned and on travel patterns within it. Many operators are simplifying their fare structures in the light of evidence that this is what customers prefer.
The Department's booklet, "Protecting Bus and Coach Crews", advises that simplifying fare structures can reduce the scope for disputes between passengers and drivers. This booklet is currently being revised by the Safer Travel on Buses and Coaches Panel (STOP).
In April 2002, the Department published "Get on Board: an Agenda for Improving Personal Security in Bus Travel", including advice to operators and local authorities on using fare structures to reduce the scope for conflict between drivers and passengers.
The Government do not collect data on flat-rate fare schemes.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to create integrated bus/rail links; and if he will make a statement; [134015]
- (2) if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies which have created integrated bus/rail links; how many passengers were carried on the bus services
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- (i) before and (ii) after implementation; how many bus services have been run; and if he will make a statement. [134016]
Mr. McNulty: The Department's Local Transport Plan (LTP) funding provides local authorities with the resources from which they can develop bus/rail interchange facilities. The LTP guidance highlights the benefits of developing seamless travel conditions at interchange points where rail and bus services can dovetail to enable fully integrated journeys.
The West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority which has Centre of Excellence status, has, for example, developed a network of modern bus interchanges in the major urban centres of the county many of which provide bus/rail links. These have the latest designs which have resulted in significant improvements in user satisfaction, and increases in passenger throughputs. They are also developing a significant number of bus/rail interchange facilities at smaller rail stations.
The statistical information requested here is not available.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies operate a hail-and-ride system, broken down by (i) number of passengers carried, (ii) length of schemes and (iii) number of services run; and if he will make a statement. [134021]
Mr. McNulty: Hail-and-ride has been in common use for many years outside main urban centres. Registration documents lodged with the Traffic Commissioners record the stopping arrangements for services, including whether they are wholly or partly operated on a hail-and-ride basis, but the statistical information requested here is not available.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to operate a buy before boarding ticket system; and if he will make a statement; [134026]
- (2) if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies which operate a buy before boarding ticket system, providing details of (i) the number of passengers carried (A) 12 months before and (B) after implementation and (ii) the number of services run; and if he will make a statement. [134027]
Mr. McNulty: Information about where bus tickets are sold is not held centrally. This is essentially a matter for local decision. Multi-journey tickets, particularly weekly and monthly travelcards and carnets, are commonly sold off the vehicle.
The Department's booklet "Protecting Bus and Coach Crews" advises that the use of pre-paid tickets reduces the scope for disputes between passengers and drivers and the risk of theft created by carrying large amounts of cash on the bus. This booklet is currently being revised by the Safer Travel on Buses and Coaches Panel (STOP).
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to offer combined ticketing for bus, rail and taxi journeys; and if he will make a statement; [134028]
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- (2) if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies that offer combined tickets for bus, rail and taxi journeys; how many (i) passengers use the joint service and (ii) services run; and if he will make a statement. [134029]
Mr. McNulty: The Transport Act 2000 empowers local authorities to make ticketing schemes covering local bus services which may include travel on connecting rail or tram services. Operators themselves may agree inter-available tickets within the terms of the Public Transport Ticketing Schemes Block Exemption Order. This Order covers journeys by bus, rail, tram or ferry.
The "Plus-bus" scheme run by "Journey Solutions" and funded by transport operators, provides an add-on bus option to rail tickets at either or both ends of a train journey. Plus-bus is currently available at 135 stations across the rail network, and is being rolled out to every major town and city in Great Britain.
Various other combined ticketing schemes are available, particularly in major conurbations. Their terms and conditions vary from time to time and it would not be practical for central Government to collect data on them, or the number of passengers using them.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies which provide a route from rural train stations to towns not served by rail; and how many (i) passengers are carried and (ii) services there were; and if he will make a statement; [134030]
- (2) what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to implement hub-and-spoke rural bus systems; and if he will make a statement; [134036]
(3) if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies which operate hub-and-spoke rural bus systems; how many (i) passengers were carried and (ii) services were run (A) 12 months before and (B) after implementation; and if he will make a statement; [134037]
(4) what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to set up bus routes from rural train stations to towns not served by rail; and if he will make a statement. [134099]
Mr. McNulty: The Department is providing significant funding to improve rural bus services through the Rural Bus Subsidy Grant (RBSG) and Rural Bus Challenge (RBC). This has enabled local authorities to address the transport needs of rural communities, including where necessary the provision of services from rural train stations.
The Department has recently conducted research on the impact of RBSG and RBC funding. This showed, for example, that in allocating RBSG, several authorities gave attention to reducing barriers to travel and promoting social inclusion, by considering access and interchange requirements. More than a quarter of the authorities responding to the study's survey, specifically sponsored services that provided improved bus-rail interchange.
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The research also showed that RBC funding has allowed and encouraged the development of complex schemes involving feeder services to main routes. In Lincolnshire, for instance, the Interconnect scheme has sought to remove barriers to travel by combining infrastructure and vehicle improvements with new service patterns revolving around guaranteed interchange and, increasingly, demand responsive transport.
The Department's Local Transport Plan funding has also enabled examples of good practice in rural rail/bus links. Cornwall which is one of the Centres of Excellence has established the first "bus branch line" in the UK. Work on the project, which fully integrates rail and bus services was completed in September 2000 and the service now operates between Redruth train station and Helston.
The statistical information requested here is not available.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to install seating on buses where seats face each other; and if he will make a statement. [134031]
Mr. McNulty: No measures have been taken to encourage either local authorities or bus companies to install seats that face each other. It is for the operators and those requiring the service to determine the best design for the seating arrangements that will get the optimum use on the route the vehicle is required for.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to enforce bus lane restrictions with (i) staff and (ii) cameras; and if he will make a statement. [134032]
Mr. McNulty: The use of bus priority measures, including bus lanes, as a way of providing attractive and reliable bus services has been encouraged by Local Transport Note 1/97 "Keeping Buses Moving", Traffic Advisory Leaflet 6/01 "Bus Priority" and the Bus Priority Resource Pack "The Way Ahead" published in September this year. Each of these publications points to the importance of enforcement to the extent that the priority measures in question are not self-enforcing.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies that have enforced their bus lane restrictions with (i) staff and (ii) cameras; how many (A) prosecutions for infringement there are (1) 12 months before and (2) after implementation, (B) staff are employed and (C) cameras are set up; and if he will make a statement. [134033]
Mr. McNulty: Responsibility for enforcement of bus lanes rests with the police or local authorities with civil enforcement powers. Information in the form requested is not collected centrally.
Civil enforcement of bus lanes in London by London local authorities and Transport for London (TfL) has been enabled by powers contained in Part II of the London Local Authorities Act 1996. Such enforcement is carried out using bus mounted cameras, roadside cameras and closed circuit television cameras. Under the bus lane enforcement camera project run by TfL,
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836 buses have been equipped with cameras and 46 roadside cameras have been installed to date. In addition, the following 12 London authorities are currently using closed circuit television cameras to enforce bus lanes in their areas: Bexley, Camden, Croydon, Ealing, Enfield, Hammersmith and Fulham, Haringey, Lambeth, Newham, Southwark, Waltham Forest and Wandsworth. In 2001–02, 290,231 penalty charge notices were issued by London local authorities and TfL for bus lane contraventions.
Regulations under section 144 of the Transport Act 2000 enabling civil enforcement of bus lanes by local authorities outside London are in preparation.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what measures he has taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to improve the regularity of bus timetabling for rural services; and if he will make a statement; [134034]
- (2) if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies that have improved the regularity of bus timetabling for rural services; how many (i) passengers were carried and (ii) services were run (A) 12 months before and (B) after implementation; and if he will make a statement. [134035]
Mr. McNulty: The Bus Partnership Forum encourages operators and local authorities to agree to limit the dates on which timetable changes are made and has produced a Code of Conduct on Service Stability for implementation locally, which was placed on the Department's website in May 2003. This code should help to stabilise the timetabling of services in rural areas, among others, but it is too soon to monitor any improvement.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to offer reduced-rate tickets for (i) pensioners, (ii) people with disabilities, (iii) children under 16 and (iv) people between the ages of 16 and 19 in full-time education; and if he will make a statement; [134078]
- (2) if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies which have implemented reduced-rate tickets for (i) pensioners, (ii) people with disabilities, (iii) children under 16 and (iv) people between the ages of 16 and 19 in full-time education in the last five years; how many passengers were carried (A) before and (B) after implementation; and if he will make a statement. [134079]
Mr. McNulty: From June 2001 the Transport Act 2000 provides a standard minimum requirement for concessionary travel in England which guarantees half fares for all pensioners and disabled people on local buses, with no charge for the pass. Local authorities may make more generous provision at their discretion. From 1 April this year concessionary travel schemes are available to men aged 60 to 64, bringing them into line with women of the same age.
Free travel to and from school is provided by local education authorities under the education acts for schoolchildren up to the age of 16 living more than the
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statutory walking distances from school. Under the Transport Act 1985 local authorities have a power to provide concessionary travel for school children, and for young people aged 16 to 19 who are undergoing full-time education (see table). That power applies to all journeys, not just those to or from school. Some bus operators offer reduced fares for young people on a commercial basis. These schemes will vary from time to time. In addition the Connexions Card project offers a range of commercial discounts for all 16 to 19-year-olds and the card is capable of carrying existing travel concessions.
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We do not collect information on what bus companies offer for these groups of people, nor on how many passengers were carried before and after implementation of any discount schemes, many of which have been in place for many years.
In 2001 the Department carried out a survey about local authority concessionary travel in England. This survey showed that in 2001 the following authorities provided concessionary travel, at their discretion, for children and young people of the following age categories:
| Under 16 | 16 years | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Unitaries | ||
| Derby City | East Riding of Yorkshire | Darlington |
| East Riding of Yorkshire | Milton Keynes | Derby City |
| Isle of Wight | North East Lincolnshire | East Riding of Yorkshire |
| Kingston upon Hull | North Lincolnshire | Hartlepool |
| Milton Keynes | Plymouth | Isle of Wight |
| North East Lincolnshire | York | Kingston upon Hull |
| North Lincolnshire | Middlesbrough | |
| Swindon | Milton Keynes | |
| York | North East Lincolnshire | |
| North Lincolnshire | ||
| Redcar and Cleveland | ||
| Stockton on Tees | ||
| Telford and Wrekin | ||
| Warrington | ||
| Windsor and Maidenhead | ||
| Counties | ||
| Derbyshire | Durham | Cornwall |
| Durham | Hertfordshire | Derbyshire |
| Hertfordshire | Northumberland | Hertfordshire |
| Northumberland | Northumberland | |
| Surrey | ||
| Passenger transport authorities | ||
| Greater Manchester | Greater Manchester | Greater Manchester |
| Merseyside | South Yorkshire | South Yorkshire |
| South Yorkshire | Tyne and Wear | Tyne and Wear |
| Tyne and Wear | West Midlands | West Midlands |
| West Midlands | West Yorkshire | West Yorkshire |
| West Yorkshire | ||
| Transport for London (TFL) | TFL | TFL |
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to use low-emission buses; and if he will make a statement. [134080]
Mr. McNulty: The Powering Future Vehicles strategy set a target that:
- "By 2012, 600 or more buses coming into operation per year will be low carbon".
In addition, TransportEnergy provides grants for cleaner fuelled buses and for the retrofitting of pollution reducing equipment to existing buses and are providing funds for the CUTE (Clean Urban Transport for Europe) Hydrogen bus project in London. They have also produced and widely distributed "The Route to Cleaner Buses: A Guide to Operating Cleaner, Low Carbon Buses".
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies using low-emission buses; what the level of emissions was (i) before and (ii) after implementation; and if he will make a statement. [134081]
Mr. McNulty: The Department has, through the TransportEnergy programme, given financial support for the purchase of 38 cleaner fuelled buses and the fitting of 4,898 buses with pollution reducing equipment. The Energy Saving Trust, which manages the programme, estimate that over the life time of these vehicles, emissions of NOx will be 4,340 tonnes less and PM10 will be 709 tonnes less. The Energy Saving Trust do not hold information on other operators using such buses.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to increase public awareness through improved advertising of bus services; and if he will make a statement; [134082]
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- (2) if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies which have improved advertising of bus services in the last five years; what estimate he has made of the number of passengers carried (i) before and (ii) after advertising campaigns; and if he will make a statement. [134083]
Mr. McNulty: The Bus Partnership Forum recently produced a report, "Understanding Customer Needs", which was placed on the Department's website in May 2003, and has been widely publicised among operators and local authorities. The report gives many examples where intelligent marketing and branding of bus services has increased public awareness, and hence patronage of the services.
The Department does not evaluate the effect of advertising campaigns by local authorities or bus companies.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies, to introduce yellow school buses; and if he will make a statement; [134084]
- (2) if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies which have introduced yellow school buses; how many (i) passengers were carried and (ii) services were run in the last period for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [134085]
Mr. McNulty: The Department for Transport has commissioned an independent evaluation of yellow school bus schemes. The evaluation is now almost complete and we expect to publish the final report, which will include an analysis of the various dedicated school bus schemes currently in operation, within the next few weeks. We will make a statement at that time.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to fit bicycle racks on buses; and if he will make a statement; [134086]
- (2) if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies which have fitted bicycle racks on buses; what estimate he has made of the number of passengers carrying bicycles (i) before and (ii) after implementation; and if he will make a statement. [134087]
Mr. McNulty: The Department recognises that combined bicycle and bus journeys have the potential to increase the market of operators as well as enabling people to use bicycles for part of a longer journey. It has encouraged local authorities and bus operators to improve the provision of cycle and bus journeys.
The Department has funded the production of advice leaflets on combined cycle and bus journeys. The National Cycling Forum (since renamed as the National Cycling Strategy Board for England) has published:
- "Issues for Public Transport Planners and Operators"—advising public transport operators of the commercial gains that can be made by encouraging combined cycling and public transport;
"Combined Bicycle and Bus or Coach Journeys"—a good practice guidance on all aspects of cycle and bus journeys including carriage, access and information and cycle parking at bus stations; and
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"Model Conditions of Carriage—Accommodating the Bicycle on Bus and Coach", that provides a basic model for operators to adopt on carriage.
We have also funded a number of schemes involving cycle racks on buses, for example, through the Rural Bus Challenge competition in separate projects in Cornwall, Shropshire and Cumbria.
The statistical information requested here is not available.
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what measures have been taken to encourage (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies to provide seat belts on buses; and if he will make a statement; [134088]
- (2) if he will list the (a) local authorities and (b) bus companies that have fitted seat belts on buses in the last five years; how many (i) deaths, (ii) serious injuries and (iii) injuries there were (A) before and (B) after implementation; and if he will make a statement. [134089]
Mr. McNulty: This information on individual local authorities and companies is not available. However, there has been a progressive increase in the provision of seat belts on buses over the last six years. This has been due to:
- (i) legislation implemented from February 1997 to require children on organised trips in minibuses and coaches to be provided with seat belts, and
(ii) legislation requiring all buses registered since October 2001 (apart from those specifically designed for standing passengers) to have seat belts provided for all forward and rearward-facing seats.
| Killed | Serious | Slight | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 17 | 264 | 4,357 |
| 1994 | 11 | 320 | 5,039 |
| 1995 | 28 | 350 | 4,430 |
| 1996 | 4 | 264 | 4,800 |
| 1997 | 6 | 209 | 4,865 |
| 1998 | 10 | 242 | 5,216 |
| 1999 | 4 | 278 | 5,707 |
| 2000 | 7 | 255 | 5,477 |
| 2001 | 4 | 231 | 5,466 |
| 2002 | 9 | 219 | 4,869 |
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