Do you see government attention on the industry as a help, or a hindrance? It’s important to get the balance right, but no doubt coaching would benefit from more help
In the list of phrases that send chills down one’s spine, “I’m from the government and I am here to help you” comes pretty near the top.
That is, of course, unless you do actually want some help from the government.
I realise that this is a bit of a generalisation, but during my time with CPT, the bus industry as a whole has been asking for the less government help, while the coach industry has often sought greater government recognition.
Purse strings
What we must always remember is that help, particularly if it involves the public purse, will always come with strings attached, so what some regard as ‘help’, others may regard as ‘interference’. As always, it is vital to get the balance right and nobody would expect taxpayers’ money to be spent without proper controls.
However, this should not give ministers carte blanche to interfere in every aspect of the coach and bus market. Our job therefore is to work with minsters to ensure that every penny they spend provides passengers, the environment, and UK plc with a proper bang for its buck.
Despite the customary warning of being careful what you wish for, there is little doubt in my mind that the coach industry would benefit from greater government recognition, and this is something that we are working hard to realise – while always striving to achieve the correct balance.
Needs on the agenda
We have had many working discussions with officials recently around the government’s clean air initiative and you can take it from me that they are very knowledgeable about the coach industry – but they need to know more.
Clean air is not the only area of coach operation that the government is dipping its toes into. I am making the rash decision to stray into the world of Brexit. Egg shells will now be trodden on. Why?
Because, in the past, I have made what I consider to be the most bland factual remarks about Brexit but both Remainers and Brexiteers have leapt on the exact same comment as evidence that I support the “other side”.
Whichever side of the divide one sits, it is surely beyond dispute that any coach operator who plies their trade in Europe after Brexit will be doing so under a very different set of rules and conditions to those which currently apply. We surely want our government to fight on our behalf to get the best deal. We must ensure then that our needs are top of the agenda.
Greatest thirst yet
For the coach industry to achieve the recognition it deserves and for officials to fight our case, the government not only needs to increase its knowledge of the contribution that coaches make, they also need a greater understanding of how we operate. Through the work that we are doing I can assure you that the thirst for that knowledge is now greater than at any time I can remember.
CPT can provide them with that information, but they need that backed up by evidence from operators. For this reason, we have been working with the Department for Transport on a survey which will hit CPT members’ desks shortly.
If, like me, you are very often “too busy” to fill out another blasted survey, could I ask you to make an exception in this case? If we want them to help us – we have to help them. Your help would therefore be greatly appreciated.
