BCC's Bill briefing to MPs
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THE BUS and Coach Council circulated a briefing to MPs this week, highlighting aspects of the Transport Bill which it feels fall short of the Government's stated aim to improve bus services.
BCC now claims it does not wish to kill the Bill and wants to suggest ways that greater competition, innovative services and increasing quality control can be introduced while still retaining co-ordination of services.
It prepared an outline "alternative Bill" before this week's second reading of the Bill which includes proposals such as increasing competition though tendering on a route basis and the relaxation of road service licensing and strengthened quality controls.
The alternative Bill accepts that the network and crosssubsidy system will be replaced but feels some protection is needed to guard against ill-conceived or ill-prepared applications that could prove to be against the public interest.
According to the BCC, the security provided by a tender within a regulated environment need not deaden the commercial drive of an operator.
It notes that the Bill places no obstacle to the withdrawal of bus services except where these services are substituted for rail services.
The BCC says this is illogical and shows discrimination against bus users compared with the smaller number of rail users.
• Junior Transport Minister David Mitchell has wined and dined 86 provincial newspaper editors in a bid to persuade them of the merits of the Government's plans to deregulate bus services.
But the cost of this extensive entertaining will be less than £2,000, Transport Secretary Nicholas Ridley has assured MPs.
• Durham's controversial bishop, the Rt Rev David Jenkins, has attacked the Transport Bill.
From a seriously considered Christian and theological viewpoint he said he opposed the Bill because it made a dogma that no one must pay their fares for anything but their own convenience on their particular route.