To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many bus compliance officers there are in each region of England; how many orders restricting operators from running services in (a) 2004-05 and (b) 2005-06 were issued by traffic commissioners; and how many non-compliant bus operators were called to inquiry by traffic commissioners in the last 12 months. (82126)

I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 15 June 2006, Official Report, columns 1325-6W for the number of bus compliance officers there are in each traffic area of the UK.

In 2004-05 there were 10 orders restricting operators from running services issued by traffic commissioners, in 2005-06 there were eight.

There were 21 non-compliant bus operators called to public inquiry in 2005-06 and in 2006-07 there have been three to 1 June. The number of non-compliant bus operators called to inquiry by traffic commissioners in the last 12 months can only be provided at disproportionate cost due to the way in which VOSA's figures have been recorded.