Councils across the country should allow ambulances to use bus lanes when they are not responding to an emergency, a transport minister has said.
Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell (Romford) said if empty taxis are allowed to use the lanes then a similar approach should be adopted for the emergency vehicles.
He told transport minister Robert Goodwill: "I'm sure you will be aware that a number of local authorities still do not allow ambulances to drive in bus lanes unless they are responding to an emergency.
"Do you agree with me that if an empty taxi returning to a taxi rank should drive in a bus lane then an ambulance returning to a hospital should also be able to do so?"
Mr Goodwill replied: "You are absolutely right - while an ambulance responding to an emergency can use a bus lane, it's up to a local authority to use its discretion, and indeed local authorities like Labour-controlled Manchester and Sheffield do not allow ambulances in bus lanes.
"I've written to every local authority in the country pointing this out to them and asking them to bear that in mind as they make their local decisions."
House of Commons/ Transport Question.