Mr. Stephen Kent:

It is done in concert with the NTA. The NTA ultimately decides. That is clear. On the demand assessment, apart from routing and network, many things influence it: housing builds, industrial locations, demand, capacity and roadworks. Many things influence whether there is an assessment.

The next question is about the level of frequency. We have found the NTA fantastic and forthcoming because so many routes around the country have moved from 30 minutes to 20 minutes and have additional frequencies put in. In a number of instances, not only has frequency increased but it is higher quality. Double-deck coaches have gone in around the Deputy's area. We are filling good-quality coaches at higher frequency and that is generating more growth. There are a lot of positives. When it is put in, everybody wants to see that it works, serves new communities and fulfils a need. Our planning team works with the NTA's. The real question is whether funding will be made available to deliver it. Typically, from the time we decide to do it, we need about 20 weeks to get something everybody agrees on and get it in. You have to work it through trade unions, recruit and get things deployed.