LETTER: Passengers vote with their feet

From Mr Graham Allen, MP

Sir: Your article on the Transport Select Committee's report on bus deregulation ("MPs voice support for 'Ofbus' ", 14 December) described the chaos that has resulted from this failed experiment, but it is also important to note that despite all the predatory practices aimed at securing passengers during peak hours ahead of competitors the number of passengers using local buses has actually fallen by 22 per cent.

If customers are voting with their feet in this way it must be a clear sign to the Government that deregulation does not offer them what they want. Labour will be looking at other options over the coming months in co-operation with the industry including network and route franchising and the use of new technology to enhance service quality.

Yours sincerely,

Graham Allen

MP for Nottingham North

(Lab)

House of Commons

London, SW1