Written question asked by Peter L Pike (Labour) on Tuesday, 31 October 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 8 November 2000. It was answered by Keith Hill (Labour) on Wednesday, 8 November 2000 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, how many miles of bus lanes there are in England; what steps are taken to enforce the regulations which apply to them; and if he will make a statement. - Includes fact that information about the length of bus lanes in England is not kept centrally.

Answer: Mr. Pike: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many miles of bus lanes there are in England; what steps are taken to enforce the regulations which apply to them; and if he will make a statement. [136669] Mr. Hill: Allocation of road space is a matter for the local highway authority and information about the length of bus lanes in England is not kept centrally. Enforcement of bus lanes is shared by the police and local highway authorities. Stationary offences can be enforced by local authorities in London, and outside where authorities have taken on decriminalised parking enforcement. In London also, following trials in four boroughs, authorities will be taking on the enforcement of moving offences in bus lanes, using cameras. The Transport Bill contains powers which, when enacted, would allow authorities outside London to do the same. The Metropolitan police are currently responsible for all enforcement on the Greater London Authority road network, some of which uses cameras provided by Transport for London. Outside London the police are responsible for all bus lane enforcement except where the local authorities have taken on the relevant powers to do it themselves.

Secondary information