Opposition Day — Rising Cost of Transport — Cap on Rail Fare Increases — 9 Jan 2013 at 18:50

The majority of MPs voted against capping rail fare increases and against banning the introduction of a new category of ticket for super-peak trains.

The majority of MPs also voted against supporting local councils seeking to hold bus companies to account.

The motion rejected in this vote was:

• That this House
• believes the rising cost of transport is adding to the financial pressures facing many households;
• notes that the Government failed to honour its pledge to cap this month’s rail fare rises at 1 per cent above inflation, resulting in some fares rising by as much as 9.2 per cent;
• recognises that this was a direct consequence of the Government’s decision to give back to the private train operators the right to increase fares by up to an additional 5 per cent beyond the increase set by Ministers;
• further notes that bus fares increased on average by more than twice the rate of inflation in 2012;
• calls on the Government to ban train operators from increasing fares beyond strict limits and to rule out the proposed introduction of a new category of super peak ticket which would increase the burden on hard-pressed commuters; and
• further calls on Ministers to support transport authorities pursuing Quality Contracts to bring accountability to bus fares, instead of using Better Bus Area funding to penalise authorities seeking to get better value for money for these taxpayer-funded services.

Debate in Parliament | Source |