FARE RISES AND PROFITS IN THE BUS INDUSTRY

Summary

That this House is concerned that bus passengers are being levied with grossly excessive and unchecked fare increases; notes recent figures from the Department for Transport showing the average UK bus fare increase was over 32 per cent in the last five years, when the inflationary rise was 18 per cent; is further concerned that in the last year alone hard pressed bus passengers have been hit by a 6.5 per cent fare increase, over twice the rate of inflation; further notes that over 1,300 bus services have been reduced or cut since May 2010, mainly as a result of cuts to public subsidy and local authority funding to the bus industry; further notes research by the RMT union that operating profits at bus companies increased on average by over seven per cent in each of the last five years, including a 7.6 per cent increase in 2011; is dismayed that despite buses accounting for two thirds of public transport journeys, including lifeline services for school children, pensioners and jobseekers, Government policy has ensured that bus operators can still make significant profits through fare rises and service cuts; and calls for an urgent review of bus policy, including whether the interests of passengers and communities could be better served by promoting the regulation and public ownership of bus services.

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