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Opening remarks

Thank you for that introduction.

Thank you also for inviting me along.

It鈥檚 a pleasure to be here today at my third consecutive UK Bus Awards.

That鈥檚 one for every Transport Secretary since I became a minister at the DfT.

This year I鈥檓 lucky enough to be sharing the stage with Jane (Jane Hill 鈥� BBC News).

A journalist and a newsreader, a TV anchor and a radio presenter - Jane is one of the country鈥檚 most familiar faces and familiar voices.

I also have it on good authority that Jane is a big fan of Radio 4鈥檚 鈥楾he Archers鈥�.

A drama come soap opera that seems to have been around forever.

Characters that not too many of the public would recognise in the street

And people living in a make-believe world which critics claim bears little resemblance to everyday life in modern Britain.

Some might say this all sounds a bit like the House of Commons.

Speaking up for the bus industry

Now, I hope I鈥檝e not just been the consistent ministerial face at the DfT - I鈥檝e also tried to be a consistent voice when it comes to speaking up for the bus industry.

So I鈥檝e said it before and I鈥檒l keep on saying it - Britain鈥檚 buses matter.

And here are a few familiar facts and figures that prove why:

• bus travel accounts for 63% of all public transport journeys
• last year in Great Britain buses clocked up 5.2 billion passenger journeys
• and, as well as contributing more than 拢2 billion a year to the economy, the bus industry provides 124,000 direct jobs and supports an estimated 83,000 jobs through the supply chain.

Buses also open up access to vital public services such as health and education.

What鈥檚 more, they provide a transport link between worker and workplace, with some two and a half million jobs accessed every day by bus, which is more than by all other forms of public transport combined.

But, increasingly, buses are also helping to safeguard our environment

For example, thanks to this government鈥檚 Green Bus Fund we鈥檙e seeing more and more low emission buses on our streets.

Buses that emit around 30% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than standard diesel buses and use around a third less fuel.

And earlier this month I was pleased to announce an extra 拢20 million for what is now the 4th round of the Green Bus Fund, bringing the total support for this initiative to 拢95 million since its launch.

As highlighted in Greener Journey鈥檚 鈥楤uses and economic growth report鈥� not only are buses the backbone of our public transport system, they can also boost economic growth and cut carbon by reducing congestion and replacing car journeys.

An industry equal to testing times

This then is an industry that makes a difference. But it鈥檚 also an industry that isn鈥檛 short of challenges.

For example, BSOG and concessionary travel

On BSOG I of course recognise that the rate was cut by 20% from April.

But I also think it鈥檚 worth remembering that the government realised the importance of giving you plenty of time to get ready for this.

Which is why we gave the bus market 18 months advance notice of the change.

And let me say this on the issue of concessionary travel.

We鈥檝e made sure that bus operators will be reimbursed so that they are 鈥渘o better and no worse off鈥� by carrying concessionary passengers.

And, because, we want the processes surrounding this to be as fair as possible, we鈥檝e also speeded up the appeals mechanism.

Look, I know that it鈥檚 not easy for operators right now.

Fluctuating fuel prices and the backdrop of a tough economic climate make these testing times for businesses and families across the country.

The latest figures show bus patronage was down 0.3% in non-metropolitan areas and while this is unwelcoming it is far from the apocalypse scene commentators were predicting. Indeed overall, bus patronage across England rose by 0.5%.

I was also pleased to see that 85% of bus passengers are satisfied with their service. And even in the area of lowest satisfaction it was still 79%. I haven鈥檛 seen the latest comparable figures for satisfaction with politicians and journalists but I鈥檓 told it鈥檚 not quite that high.

In other words, these may be testing times but, once again, the industry is showing itself to be equal to them.

Green light for better buses

Indeed, I sense a mood of quiet optimism that was especially tangible at the recent 2012 Euro Bus Expo, which I was delighted to open and where I was able to speak with many in the industry.

But I also know that there is more to do. Now is not the time for the engine to tick over at the bus stop, we have to keep moving forward.

That鈥檚 why earlier this year I set out my vision for buses in the DfT policy document Green light for better buses.

I believe that this report will help provide stability in the industry by reforming subsidy, improving competition and Incentivise partnership working.

At its heart is a shared vision for a bus service that is reliable and flexible, efficient and innovative.

One that offers competitive prices and smarter ticketing.

A bus service that gives taxpayers real value for money and passengers a travel option they want to use time and again.

A bus service that is successful and sustainable.

A bus service that people want to use, not one they use because they have to.

Young people

I鈥檇 argue that one of the best ways to ensure success and sustainability over the long-term is to encourage much greater bus travel among that section of the market that is literally the future of the industry - young people.

This is a challenge that cannot be side-stepped.

In fact, just this month the Youth Select Committee published its report on 鈥楾ransport and young people鈥�.

That report called for the age at which young people start paying full fares to be set at 18 across England and for the introduction of a national concessionary scheme to provide a discounted bus travel card for those younger.

Well I am looking at this report very seriously and I really do want to work with operators, and also local authorities, to improve the deal for our young people.

So, as I said, this is a challenge we have to meet.

But it鈥檚 also an opportunity.

So let鈥檚 think about all the ways we can use bus services to help young people access employment and training opportunities.

Let鈥檚 make bus travel easy and attractive for young people by building on initiatives like Confederation of Passenger Transport鈥檚 excellent 鈥楤us for us鈥� interactive website.

I鈥檓 delighted that, since I launched it, over 80 of the UK鈥檚 bus operators are already signed up to 鈥楤us for us鈥� - equivalent to 85% of the bus market.

I鈥檇 like to see all operators on board in the near future. There鈥檚 room on top for the rest. My message to the remaining 15% is don鈥檛 miss the bus.

Let鈥檚 also be innovative about the fare deals and the discounts on offer to young people鈥�and the great work done by Trent Barton in this area shows it can be done.

Let鈥檚 deliver some consistency too.

For example, TCA-led youth concessions are offered in 28 TCAs outside London, and a commercial youth concession is available in 80 TCAs.

So there are some good things going on.

But why is it that in some places there are no concessions at all? And how can it be that in one area a 16 year old might get free bus travel while, in another, a 14 year old pays full adult fare?

So let鈥檚 come together and work together to support our young people.

Put simply, let鈥檚 win over the next generation of bus passengers.

Pay tribute to all the nominees

Now let me return to the reason why we are all here.

I said earlier that I鈥檓 proud to be the bus champion in government.

But I鈥檓 also just as proud of the people and organisations working in the bus industry.

And, this afternoon, we rightly take the time to recognise some of the brightest and the best in the industry.

22 categories in this year鈥檚 awards:

• individuals and teams
• local authorities and operators
• cities and shires
• small projects and big projects

All making today鈥檚 shortlist.

All very different.

But all with something in common鈥�.excellence and achievement.

For me, these awards show that the hallmarks of your industry are innovation, professionalism and sheer hard work.

They also show that, at its heart, your industry is all about people.

We can talk about investment. And we can debate the pros and cons of one policy versus another.

But, when push comes to shove, it鈥檚 the people in the bus industry who make the difference.

Making the difference because they understand the needs of the travelling public.

Making the difference because they want to provide a first class service.

Making the difference by delivering real improvements on the ground.

That鈥檚 who, and what, we are honouring today鈥�.and so I pay tribute to all of this year鈥檚 nominees.

Conclusions

Okay. They do say that making a speech is a bit like having a fight 鈥� any fool can start one, the real skill is knowing when and how to end it.

Well, I know you鈥檙e keen to get on with handing out those awards, so you鈥檒l be pleased to hear that the when has arrived.

As for how to end it it simply remains for me to thank you for your hospitality, to thank you for listening and to wish all those waiting to hear if they鈥檝e won the very best of luck.

Thank you and hopefully I鈥檒l see you all next year.