The Transport Secretary John Prescott has announced new national targets for bus reliability and investment and ordered operators from the public and private sector to be held accountable to passengers through regular satisfaction surveys.He says he wants buses to be used as a first choice of transport, not a last resort. 

The new Cabinet Office Minister Mo Mowlam has put new charge into the battle against red tape.She’s set a target of one year to see a reduction in over-complex rules and regulations coming out of Whitehall.
And she is not just concerned about industry, but wants to examine the additional pressures placed on doctors, teachers and local authorities.