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Tories' eight-point plan for better bus services
Page 45
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from our political correspondent II Eight ways in which bus services could lecome more efficient, without the bureau:racy of PTAs, have been laid down by the :.'onservative party in new transport policy proposals issued this week.
The author of the proposals, Mr. Peter Walker, Shadow Transport Minister, says here is no reason to suppose that bus losses
m the scale of London Transport are :ndemic facts of life. There are many ways n which undertakings could be encoUraged o be more efficient. Aimed mainly at town trid city services, they include:—
0 ) The restoration of investment allowances. his would encourage one man operation and :ut costs.
(2) The abolition of SET, so the industry vould not be compelled to give the Governnent an interest-free loan.
(3) The repayment of petrol rebates mmediately.
(4) The go-ahead for a greater variety of buses to be used for different purposes, e.g. standing-only vehicles for journeys from housing estates to factories.
(5) The elimination of restrictive practices holding up one-man operation. This would overcome the absurd paradox of missed schedules because of shortage of labour in an industry which is basically overmanned.
(6) The more extensive introduction of flat-rate fares, cutting out the considerable overhead costs which go with differential systems.
(7) The clearing from bus routes of parked vehicles—and the prohibition of loading and unloading—at peak hours.
(8) The liberalization of the licensing system to enable mini-buses to be run by garage proprietors and others to improve facilities in rural areas.
Mr. Walker says the difference between the Socialists and the Tories is that the former believe in public ownership and control from Whitehall; the latter believe in an arrangement where decisions are decentralized, where ownership is, as far as possible, private and where the source of cohesion is competition.