To ask the Minister of State, Department for Transport what the percentage change in levels of bus usage in (a) England, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) the City of York was in each year since 1996-97. (295223)

Between 1996-97 and 2007-08 (the latest year for which figures are currently available) the number of local bus passenger journeys in England increased by 18 per cent. Over the same period the number of local bus passenger journeys in Yorkshire and the Humber decreased by 13 per cent.

Owing to the small number of bus operators present in the area, figures for the City of York are commercially confidential and therefore cannot be published.

Figures for each year can be found in the following table: