DEREGULATION of the bus industry will not start until 1986.
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The Queen's speech this week said that legislation will be introduced this session to abolish road service licensing throughout Great Britain and to privatise the National Bus Company.
But it is understood that the changes in the system will not come into effect until the year after next, although the Bill should be on the statute book by next summer.
The Bill is likely to contain few changes from the proposals outlined in the White Paper published in July.
On the issue of privatising the National Bus Company, it is likely that the Government will reorganise the company into smaller units before being sold to the private sector. Bids from employees will be welcomed by Ministers.
The six PTEs in the metropolitan county councils, which are to be abolished, will be split into smaller units with the same status as other municipally owned bus companies.
With the metropolitan counties due to disappear on April 1, 1986, it is likely that the changes in bus policy will take effect from the same date.