To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment has been made of the effect on passengers of the introduction of tendering for London's buses.

Tendering has introduced an element of competition into the provision of bus services in London. The effect has been to improve service quality and reduce costs, both on tendered routes and on the rest of the network, to the benefit of the bus passenger and the taxpayer alike.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from private companies concerning the proposed deregulation of London Buses.

I have received a number of written and oral representations from private companies concerning aspects of our plans to deregulate London bus services.