PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
IMPROVING LOCAL BUS SERVICES (9 April 2002)

That this House welcomes the initiative by the Local Government Association, the Confederation of Passenger Transport, the National Federation of Bus Users, the NHS Confederation, Age Concern, the National Society for Clean Air, Transport 2000 and the Association of Transport Co-ordinating Officers to encourage local partnerships between councils, local bus operators and other partners to pilot innovative ideas to improve bus services; notes that two thirds of public transport journeys are made by bus and that improving bus services offers the greatest potential for quickly improving public transport at the local level, thereby promoting social inclusion, reducing congestion and improving air quality; regrets that government regulations are hampering the ability of local partners to pilot new bus improvement measures; and calls on the Government to work with the LGA and its partners to relax legislative restrictions in areas where a good case has been made for a pilot scheme to improve local bus services.

Sponsored by:
Sir Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)