Public Transport

Jim Dobbin
13. To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve the quality of bus services.

Gillian Merron
We are committed to improving bus services for passengers across the country.

We will shortly be setting out detailed proposals on the direction of future bus policy. Legislative measures will be included in the Draft Road Transport Bill.

Dr. Kumar
16. To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve the service offered to bus passengers.

Gillian Merron
We are committed to improving bus services for passengers across the country.

We will shortly be setting out detailed proposals on the direction of future bus policy. Legislative measures will be included in the Draft Road Transport Bill.

Mr. Crausby
14. To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when a national system of free local bus travel for pensioners will be in place.

Gillian Merron
In April this year we introduced free off-peak local bus travel for older and disabled people. And, as announced in the Queen's Speech, we are now introducing a Bill that will extend this free off-peak travel to anywhere in England from April 2008.

Ian Lucas
15. To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to persuade motorists to use public transport as an alternative to driving.

Dr. Ladyman
The Government are encouraging motorists to use public transport by investing in and supporting better services, providing better  information on sustainable travel choices, and thus helping to make public transport a realistic and attractive alternative for many journeys. More passengers are choosing to travel by rail year-on-year, and we will shortly be setting out proposals for further improving bus services.