London dereg warning
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• Deregulation of London's buses could begin this autumn, warns the Capital Transport Campaign (CTA).
CTA plans to fight the introduction of deregulation in London and is already lobbying the capital's 84 MPs.
Under the 1985 Transport Act the Government can introduce deregulation in London without introducing new legislation: it can instead simply lay an order before Parliament to be either passed or rejected. Capital claims that the present Conservative majority makes the result largely a foregone conclusion, but hopes by lobbying to get reassurances on future services before the order is laid before the House.
Capital states that London Buses already faces direct competition on one of its regular services; the 507 Red Arrow service between Victoria and Waterloo. Private company Victoria Shuttle Service has permission to run its 507E Victoria Executive Shuttle every 8-10 minutes on the route.
A spokesman for London Regional Transport says Victoria Shuttle Service is the first company to compete directly with London Buses on regular services in London. Under the 1985 Transport Act the company is allowed to compete in this way, provided it is granted a licence by LRT or by the Transport Department. CI The Capital Transport Campaign has complained to the Advertising Standards Authority about an advertisement placed by London Buses in the national and local press promising new bus drivers that they can earn 2200 per week. Capital coordinator Jon Unman says: "It is running dishonest advertising, promising drivers much more money than they can really earn."