LEIGH'S MP Lawrence Cunliffe wants to get people back on the buses!

And he is backing the Government's proposals to boost bus travel.

Mr Cunliffe says the bus deregulation policy brought in 10 years ago by the Tories has been a disaster.

He said: "Since deregulation in 1986, local bus fares have risen by 22% in real terms and outside London the number of passenger journeys has fallen by 29%.

"In London where the buses have not been deregulated, passenger journeys have actually increased by 5% though other factors favour the use of public transport in the capital."

Mr Cunliffe was speaking as Transport Minister Gavin Strang was addressing the PTIU (Public Transport Information Unit) Conference in Manchester.

Outlining Labour's approach to the bus industry, Dr Strang said:

"We need to do everything we can to promote bus travel. A bus can carry the occupants of 50 cars in peak time and yet only take up the road space of three.

"Under the Conservatives, from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s bus user costs rose by 1.5% a year in real terms while car user costs fell 0.5%.

"We are looking at how best to regulate bus transport at local level. It could be a light touch or something far more reaching.

"I want to hear from local authorities, the operators and the travelling public on how we can get people back on the buses."

Mr Cunliffe added: "I want to see us get value for money in transport.

"Every year the public sector supports the bus industry to the tune of around £1 billion - £300m in bus subsidy, £400m in concessionary fares schemes and operators recover about £230m in fuel duty rebates.

"I want to see clean and efficient buses that turn up when they are meant to and carry people at fares that are affordable."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.