QUALITY CONTRACT FOR BUS SERVICES IN TYNE AND WEAR

That this House welcomes the plan for a quality contract for bus services in Tyne and Wear which will allow fares to be capped, services to be protected and London-style smart and simple Oyster-style ticketing to be introduced; congratulates the Tyne and Wear Combined Authority for being the first city region to seek to introduce London-style bus regulation and encourages other city regions to follow Tyne and Wear's lead; and condemns multi-millionaire Brian Souter's campaign of threats and misinformation in order to protect Stagecoach's monopoly profits at the expense of low income bus users.