The Petition of residents of East Cleveland and Middlesbrough,
Declares that the Petitioners believe that bus services in Teesside provided by Arriva have been second rate for too long; that buses do not run on time, services have been cut back and rising fares are threatening to price out vulnerable, elderly and young people from using public transport for educational purposes, as a means of transport for work and for accessing health services; and further declares that the Petitioners believe that Government cuts to subsidies for local bus services are making this already poor situation worse,
The 490 Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to reverse cuts to local bus subsidies and take all possible steps to ensure that improvements are made to bus services in East Cleveland and Middlesbrough.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Tom Blenkinsop, Official Report, 4 July 2012; Vol. 547, c. 1029.]
[P001104]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Transport:
Bus services are vital to the health of the economy, to connecting people to services and jobs, and to cutting carbon. Despite the pressure on the public finances, the Government continue to provide significant funds for local bus services in East Cleveland, Middlesbrough and elsewhere through bus subsidy for operators, albeit reduced by 20% since 1 April 2012, and via the national concessionary travel entitlement, which was protected in the budget.
The Coalition Government does not control local bus services, which are generally provided by commercial bus operators in a market environment, community transport operators or procured by Local Transport Authorities as “tendered services”.
However, we recognise that not every area has the local bus services that residents need and expect. To improve matters, we are implementing the Competition Commission’s recommendations for local bus markets, to increase the threat of competition to incumbent, dominant operators, reforming the way we subsidise local bus services, and incentivising partnership working between commercial operators and local councils.
In addition, the Government have recently made available £115 million of funding to local bus companies and local transport authorities to provide better, cleaner and greener bus services. This considerable sum underlines the Government’s firm commitment to investment in transport infrastructure and so tackling congestion and decarbonising transport.