Bus Services: Competition

Mr. Iain Wright
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which barriers to entry to the market in the provision of bus services he has identified; and what steps he plans to take to remove the barriers identified.

Gillian Merron
We have not identified any regulatory barriers to entry to this market. Outside London, the bus market is deregulated. Any operator who holds a public service vehicle operator’s licence, or a voluntary body that hold a community bus (section 22) permit, may register a bus service with the traffic commissioner and begin to operate it 56 days after the date of registration. In London, operators who hold such a licence or permit may tender for services in the London bus network.