The minister of state for transport has backed calls for local authorities to have more control over deciding bus fares and routes.
Dr Stephen Ladyman told the MPs on the transport select committee this week that he was in favour of giving councils more power, but stopped short of saying that regional cities should receive London-style powers. It would be appropriate to give increased powers to passenger transport executives, as suggested by a Local Government Association report last week (Surveyor, 1 June).
Bob Linnard, director of DfT regional and local policy, also speaking to the committee, acknowledged that the typical 15% cost of developing major schemes highlighted the need to make the criteria clearer. But Ladyman and Linnard could not reveal how much had been spent in total on schemes that never saw the light of day.
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