Saturday, 14 January 2006

Bus Services Bill

With one of my other hat's on, I subscribe to a weekly newsletter from the trade union group of MP's, which details current issues and proceeding in parliament which are of interest.

In this week's newsletter one of the Bill's listed as starting it way through parliament is the 'Bus Services Bill'. The bill which has been put together by Andrew Miller (Labour MP for Ellesmere Port and Neston) looks to tackle two problems from that stem from bus deregulation.

The first of these is around proper consultation with services users and others when changing, altering or canceling services, with the second issue been around ensuring that service timetables allow sufficient time for all passengers especially the disabled or those with prams, trolley's etc to be able to get on the bus, with training for drivers to meet the needs of those passengers that require help.

Both of those are goods aims, particularly the first, around consultation which would ensure that service users can a 'real' say before services are changed and I hope that when the bill comes up for it's second reading on 12th May, it gets a full hearing and a chance to address the issues it raises.

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