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Transport (Wales) Bill


Transport (Wales) Bill

1

 

A

Bill

To

Make provision about transport to, from and within Wales.                                               

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and

consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present

Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

General transport functions

1       

General transport duty

(1)   

The Assembly must—

(a)   

develop policies for the promotion and encouragement of safe,

integrated, sustainable, efficient and economic transport facilities and

5

services to, from and within Wales, and

(b)   

carry out its functions so as to implement those policies.

(2)   

The transport facilities and services mentioned in subsection (1) are—

(a)   

those required to meet the needs of persons living or working in Wales,

or visiting or travelling through Wales, and

10

(b)   

those required for the transportation of freight.

(3)   

Those facilities and services include facilities and services for pedestrians and

cyclists.

2       

Wales Transport Strategy

(1)   

The Assembly must prepare and publish a document to be known as the Wales

15

Transport Strategy.

(2)   

The Strategy must set out—

(a)   

the policies developed by the Assembly under section 1(1)(a), and

(b)   

how the Assembly proposes to discharge its duty under section 1(1)(b).

(3)   

The Assembly must keep the Strategy under review and may from time to time

20

revise it.

 
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Transport (Wales) Bill

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(4)   

If the Assembly revises the Strategy, it must publish (as it considers

appropriate)—

(a)   

the whole Strategy as revised, or

(b)   

the revised parts.

(5)   

In preparing or revising the Strategy the Assembly must consult—

5

(a)   

each local authority in Wales;

(b)   

each county council or district council in England whose area abuts

Wales;

(c)   

any other persons it considers appropriate.

(6)   

The Strategy and any revision of it do not have effect until approved by the

10

Assembly.

(7)   

The Assembly must not delegate its function under subsection (6).

Local transport functions

3       

Local transport plans

The Schedule (which makes provision about local transport plans) has effect.

15

4       

Arrangements for discharge of transport functions

(1)   

The Assembly may direct two or more local authorities in Wales to enter into

arrangements—

(a)   

in the terms specified in the direction, and

(b)   

in relation to the discharge of transport functions specified in the

20

direction.

(2)   

The arrangements may in particular be or include arrangements for the joint

discharge of transport functions.

(3)   

In deciding whether to give a direction under this section in relation to

particular functions, the Assembly must in particular have regard to the

25

interests of economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the discharge of the

functions.

(4)   

The Assembly may vary or revoke a direction given under this section in

relation to particular functions by a further such direction, but only if it is

satisfied that, on variation or revocation, satisfactory arrangements will be in

30

place for the discharge of those functions.

(5)   

Before giving, varying or revoking a direction under this section the Assembly

must consult the local authorities concerned and any other persons it considers

appropriate.

(6)   

“Transport function” means a function of a local authority in Wales relating to

35

transport.

5       

Joint transport authorities

(1)   

The Assembly may by order establish a body (to be known as a joint transport

authority) to discharge specified transport functions for an area made up of all

or any part or parts of the areas of two or more specified local authorities in

40

Wales.

 
 

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(2)   

Before making an order under subsection (1) the Assembly must consult the

local authorities concerned and any other persons it considers appropriate.

(3)   

A joint transport authority must be established as a body corporate.

(4)   

An order under subsection (1) may include provision—

(a)   

about the composition of the joint transport authority (including the

5

appointment of members of the authority by the local authorities

concerned and by the Assembly);

(b)   

about the proceedings of the authority (including different provision in

respect of the voting rights of different categories of member);

(c)   

about the financing of the authority;

10

(d)   

about the discharge of the functions of the authority (including

provision for the discharge of functions by committees);

(e)   

about officers of the authority;

(f)   

about the acquisition, appropriation and disposal of land by the

authority (including provision for the acquisition of land by agreement

15

or compulsorily);

(g)   

for the transfer of staff, property, rights and liabilities to the authority;

(h)   

for the payment of compensation in respect of loss suffered by any

person in consequence of the constitution of the authority;

(i)   

for specified enactments relating to local authorities in Wales and

20

transport functions to have effect, in relation to the authority and its

functions, with any specified modifications.

(5)   

If an order under subsection (1) includes provision for the appointment of

members of the authority by persons other than the local authorities

concerned, the order must not provide for the total number of members so

25

appointed to be equal to, or exceed, half the total number of members capable

of being appointed.

(6)   

The Assembly may vary or revoke an order under subsection (1) only if it is

satisfied that, on variation or revocation, satisfactory arrangements will be in

place for the discharge of the functions of the joint transport authority.

30

(7)   

An order varying or revoking an order under subsection (1) may include

provision for the transfer of staff, property, rights and liabilities from the joint

transport authority to one or more other joint transport authorities or local

authorities in Wales.

(8)   

Before varying or revoking an order under subsection (1) the Assembly must

35

consult—

(a)   

any joint transport authorities and local authorities in Wales which

appear to it likely to be affected;

(b)   

any other persons it considers appropriate.

(9)   

An order under subsection (1) is to be treated as being Assembly general

40

subordinate legislation for the purposes of the Government of Wales Act 1998

(c. 38).

(10)   

For the purposes of section 74 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (c. 41)

(levies)—

(a)   

a joint transport authority is to be treated as a levying body with respect

45

to which regulations may be made under subsection (2) of that section,

and

 
 

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(b)   

the reference in that subsection to the council concerned is to be treated

as a reference to the local authorities specified in the order under

subsection (1) establishing the joint transport authority.

(11)   

In this section—

“specified”, in relation to an order under subsection (1), means specified

5

in the order;

“transport function” means a function of a local authority in Wales

relating to transport.

6       

Financial assistance: local transport functions

(1)   

The Assembly may give financial assistance to—

10

(a)   

joint transport authorities, and

(b)   

local authorities in Wales,

   

for the purpose of enabling or facilitating them to discharge their functions

relating to transport.

(2)   

The Assembly may attach conditions to financial assistance under this section.

15

Public transport

7       

Provision of public passenger transport services

(1)   

The Assembly may secure the provision of any public passenger transport

services which it considers appropriate for the purpose of meeting any public

transport requirements within Wales which would not in its view otherwise be

20

met.

(2)   

In exercising its power under subsection (1) the Assembly must have regard

to—

(a)   

a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness,

(b)   

the Wales Transport Strategy, and

25

(c)   

the transport needs of members of the public who are elderly or

disabled.

(3)   

For the purpose of securing the provision of a service under subsection (1) the

Assembly may enter into agreements providing for service subsidies.

(4)   

But the Assembly may not enter into an agreement under subsection (3) unless

30

the service in question would not be provided without a subsidy.

(5)   

“Public passenger transport services” means all those services on which

members of the public rely for getting from place to place, when not relying on

private facilities of their own, including school transport but not including—

(a)   

services provided under permits under section 19 of the Transport Act

35

1985 (c. 67) (permits in relation to use of buses by educational and other

bodies) other than services provided wholly or mainly to meet the

needs of members of the public who are elderly or disabled;

(b)   

excursions and tours.

(6)   

“Agreements providing for service subsidies” are agreements under which any

40

person undertakes to provide public passenger transport services of any

description on terms which include provision for the making of payments to

that person by the Assembly.

 
 

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(7)   

“Excursion or tour” has the meaning given in section 137(1) of the Transport

Act 1985 (c. 67).

8       

Public Transport Users’ Committee for Wales

(1)   

The Assembly may by order establish a body corporate, to be known as the

Public Transport Users’ Committee for Wales or Pwyllgor Defnyddwyr

5

Trafnidiaeth Gyhoeddus Cymru.

(2)   

The Assembly may by order provide for a body established under subsection

(1) to be known by a different name.

(3)   

A body established under subsection (1) is referred to in this Act as the

Committee.

10

(4)   

An order under subsection (1) may include provision—

(a)   

about the status and membership of the Committee (including how

members are to be appointed);

(b)   

about the proceedings of the Committee;

(c)   

about officers and staff of the Committee;

15

(d)   

about the discharge of functions of the Committee (including provision

for the discharge of functions by sub-committees with members who

are not all members of the Committee);

(e)   

about the making of reports by the Committee to the Assembly;

(f)   

about the making of payments to or in respect of officers, staff and

20

members of the Committee;

(g)   

about the payment of pensions and the making of other payments to or

in respect of former officers and staff of the Committee;

(h)   

about the keeping of accounts by the Committee and their audit and

submission to the Assembly;

25

(i)   

about the acquisition and disposal by the Committee of property, rights

and liabilities (including land);

(j)   

authorising the Committee to charge for any services it provides in the

discharge of any of its functions;

(k)   

for the transfer of staff, property, rights and liabilities to the

30

Committee.

(5)   

The Assembly may make payments to the Committee of such amounts, at such

times, and on such conditions (if any) as it considers appropriate.

(6)   

The Assembly may by order make provision for the transfer of staff, property,

rights and liabilities from the Committee to any other person.

35

9       

Functions of the Committee

(1)   

The Committee may consider and make recommendations to the Assembly

about any matter relating to public passenger transport services or facilities to,

from or within Wales.

(2)   

The Committee must consider and make recommendations to the Assembly

40

about any such matter if asked to do so by the Assembly.

(3)   

The Assembly may by order—

(a)   

confer further functions on the Committee;

(b)   

remove functions from the Committee;

 
 

Transport (Wales) Bill

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(c)   

make changes to any functions of the Committee;

(d)   

transfer any functions of the Committee to another person (including to

the Assembly).

(4)   

An order under subsection (3) may confer a function on the Committee, or

make changes to a function of the Committee, only if the new function, or the

5

function as changed, relates to public passenger transport services or facilities

to, from or within Wales.

(5)   

The functions that may be conferred on the Committee under subsection (3)(a)

include a power—

(a)   

to enter into arrangements with another body for discharging functions

10

on behalf of that body in relation to Wales;

(b)   

to give effect to any such arrangements;

(c)   

to enter into arrangements with another body for that body to

discharge any functions of the Committee on behalf of the Committee.

(6)   

The discharge of a function by the Committee on behalf of another body does

15

not affect the responsibility of the body for the discharge of the function.

(7)   

The discharge of a function by another body on behalf of the Committee does

not affect the responsibility of the Committee for the discharge of the function.

(8)   

The provision that may be made in an order under subsection (3) includes

provision amending or repealing any provision of an enactment conferring

20

functions on the Committee.

(9)   

The Committee may do anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is

conducive or incidental to, the discharge of any of its functions.

(10)   

In this section—

“public passenger transport services” has the meaning given in section 7;

25

“public passenger transport facilities” means facilities for public

passenger transport services.

10      

Guidance and directions to the Committee

(1)   

The Assembly may—

(a)   

issue guidance to the Committee as to how it is to discharge its

30

functions;

(b)   

give directions to the Committee as to how it is to discharge its

functions.

(2)   

The Committee must—

(a)   

have regard to any guidance issued under subsection (1)(a);

35

(b)   

comply with any directions given under subsection (1)(b).

(3)   

Guidance or directions under this section must be in writing.

(4)   

The Assembly may vary or revoke directions given under this section.

Air transport

11      

Financial assistance: air transport services

40

(1)   

The Assembly may give financial assistance to—

 
 

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(a)   

persons who provide or propose to provide air transport services

which start or end at an airport in Wales, and

(b)   

persons who provide or propose to provide airport facilities or services

at a place in Wales,

   

for the purpose of enabling or facilitating them to provide those services or

5

facilities.

(2)   

But the Assembly may give financial assistance under this section only if the

services or facilities would not in its view be provided without the financial

assistance.

(3)   

The Assembly may attach conditions to financial assistance under this section.

10

(4)   

“Air transport services” means services for the carriage by air of passengers or

cargo.

Supplementary

12      

Commencement

The preceding provisions of this Act come into force in accordance with

15

provision made by the Assembly by order.

13      

Orders

(1)   

This section applies to an order made by the Assembly under this Act.

(2)   

The power to make the order is exercisable by statutory instrument.

(3)   

The order—

20

(a)   

may make different provision for different purposes;

(b)   

may include incidental, supplemental, consequential, saving or

transitional provision.

14      

Interpretation

(1)   

This section applies for the purposes of this Act.

25

(2)   

“The Assembly” means the National Assembly for Wales.

(3)   

“Local authority in Wales” means a county council or county borough council

in Wales.

15      

Money

There shall be paid out of money provided by Parliament any increase attributable to

30

this Act in the sums payable out of money provided by Parliament under another

enactment.

16      

Extent

This Act extends to England and Wales only.

 
 

 
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Revised 16 December 2004