While there are many people who choose to use public transport, there are many more who have little choice but to do so.

Not everyone has access to a car and even some of those who do may sometimes find driving and parking too expensive or inconvenient.

There are also a growing number of people who want to use public transport because it is a greener option.

But whatever their reasons, these people are, to some extent, at the mercy of the operators when it comes to the level of fares and service provided.

Now Councillors on Metro, the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority, are being asked to back plans which would pave the way for the kind of ‘franchised’ bus network already up and running in London.

It is thought this would be the ideal way to tackle some anti-competitive practices highlighted by the Office of Fair Trading which can occur in areas where operators enjoy a monopoly.

The Quality Contract scheme, as it is called, could be just what is needed to stop price hikes and service withdrawals.

There is nothing wrong with a bus company making enough money to reward shareholders – provided this is at a reasonable level – and invest in the future of the business.

But profits of around 20 per cent – one of the figures quoted – sound excessive, especially when the amount of public money pumped into the county’s bus services – a massive £90 million annually – is taken into account.

That sort of sum should buy much more influence on behalf of passengers than is currently enjoyed.