House of Commons Public Bill Committee Proceedings

House of Commons

Session 2007 - 08
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Other Bills before Parliament

Report Stage Proceedings: 27th October 2008
834

Local Transport Bill [Lords], continued


Any such response must state the actions (if any) which the authority or

authorities have taken in relation to each of the board’s recommendations

(if any) under section 126AC(2) or (3).

(1B)
If—

(a)
the scheme is for an area in Wales, and

(b)
the Welsh Ministers approve the scheme under section 126,


the authority or authorities who proposed it may make it, as approved, at

any time not later than 6 months after the date of the approval.”.’.

Graham Stringer

Mr Clive Betts

Ian Stewart

Ms Angela C. Smith

Mr Paul Truswell

Not called  96

Page  25,  line  14  [Clause  26],  leave out subsections (2) to (4).

Norman Baker

Mr John Leech

Not called  52

Page  25,  line  14  [Clause  26],  leave out subsection (2), and insert—

‘(2)
Leave out subsection (1) and insert—

“(1)
Once the appropriate national authority considers the scheme the

authority or authorities who proposed it may make it, with or without

modifications, at any time not later than 6 months after the date on which

the recommendations of the approvals board are published.”’.

Norman Baker

Mr John Leech

Not called  53

Page  25,  line  24  [Clause  26],  leave out ‘approvals board for England’ and insert

‘authority proposing to make the scheme’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  206

Page  26,  line  5  [Clause  26],  leave out ‘the authority or authorities propose to’ and

insert ‘it is proposed that the authority or authorities will’.

Graham Stringer

Mr Clive Betts

Ian Stewart

Ms Angela C. Smith

Mr Paul Truswell

Not called  97

Page  26,  line  15  [Clause  26],  leave out ‘periods mentioned in subsection (1), (1A)

or’ and insert ‘period mentioned in subsection’.

Report Stage Proceedings: 27th October 2008
835

Local Transport Bill [Lords], continued

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  207

Page  26,  line  15  [Clause  26],  leave out ‘(1), (1A)’ and insert ‘(1A), (1B)’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  208

Page  26,  line  15  [Clause  26],  at end insert—

‘( )
In section 162(4) of the TA 2000 (provisions where references to Passenger

Transport Authorities or Integrated Transport Authorities are to be read as

references to Passenger Transport Executives) insert at the appropriate place in

the list of provisions—

“section 127(3A),”.’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  122

Page  26,  line  30  [Clause  28],  at end insert—

‘(c)
in paragraph (b), after “under a quality contract” insert “or is an interim

service (see section 132C)”.’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  123

Page  26,  line  36  [Clause  28],  after ‘registration’, insert ‘or variation’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  209

Page  27,  line  12  [Clause  30],  leave out first ‘the’ and insert ‘a quality contracts’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  210

Page  27,  line  15  [Clause  30],  leave out from ‘must’ to end of line 22 and insert ‘,

unless the proposal that the scheme should continue is an exempt continuation proposal

(see section 131AA), comply with the requirements of—

(a)
section 124(2)(b) (approval by Welsh Ministers), if the scheme is for an

area in Wales, or

(b)
section 124(2)(c) (publication of request to, and response to report of,

QCS board), if the scheme is for an area in England.’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  211

Page  27,  line  22  [Clause  30],  at end insert—

‘(2A)
Section 125 applies in relation to the continuation of a scheme under this section

as it applies in relation to the making of a scheme, but with the following

modifications—

(a)
any reference to a proposal to make a scheme is to be read as a reference

to a proposal for the continuation of a scheme,

(b)
any reference to the proposed scheme is to be read as a reference to the

scheme as proposed to continue in operation,


and with the further modifications specified in subsections (2B) and (3), but this

is subject to such modifications or exclusions as may be prescribed by regulations

under section 133.

Report Stage Proceedings: 27th October 2008
836

Local Transport Bill [Lords], continued

(2B)
If the proposal is an exempt continuation proposal—

(a)
section 125(1)(d) (duty to send copy of notice to senior traffic

commissioner if scheme relates to area in England) does not apply, but

(b)
section 125(3)(e) (duty to consult traffic commissioners for areas to

which scheme relates) applies with the omission of the words “if the

proposed scheme relates to an area in Wales,”.’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  212

Page  27,  line  23  [Clause  30],  leave out ‘mentioned in subsection (2)(a) must’ and

insert ‘that is to be published by virtue of section 125(1)(a), as applied by subsection (2A),

must (instead of complying with section 125(1A))’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  213

Page  27,  line  44  [Clause  30],  leave out from ‘exempt’ to ‘a’ in line 45 and insert

‘continuation proposal,’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  214

Page  28,  line  8  [Clause  30],  at end insert—

‘(j)
the date by which any written responses to the consultation must be

submitted to the authority or authorities.’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  215

Page  28,  line  8  [Clause  30],  at end insert—

‘(3A)
For the purposes of this section—

(a)
subsection (1B) of section 125 (matters to be included in the description

of the proposed scheme) applies for the purposes of subsection (3)(a) as

it applies for the purposes of subsection (1A)(a) of that section, and

(b)
subsection (1C) of that section (meaning of “chief finance officer”)

applies for the purposes of subsection (3)(h) as it applies for the purposes

of subsection (1A)(e) of that section.’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  216

Page  28  [Clause  30],  leave out lines 9 to 16.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  217

Page  28,  line  17  [Clause  30],  leave out ‘(2)(a)’ and insert ‘(3)’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  218

Page  28,  line  18  [Clause  30],  leave out ‘subsection (2)’ and insert ‘section

125(1)(a) and (b) (as applied by this section)’.

Report Stage Proceedings: 27th October 2008
837

Local Transport Bill [Lords], continued

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  219

Page  28,  line  19  [Clause  30],  after ‘before’, insert ‘the scheme’s expiry date.

(5A)
For the purposes of this section, a scheme’s “expiry date” is’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  220

Page  28,  line  24  [Clause  30],  at end insert—

‘(5B)
The period for which a scheme continues in operation by virtue of a decision

under subsection (1) may begin—

(a)
on such day falling before, on, or immediately after the scheme’s expiry

date as the authority or authorities decide, or

(b)
if the circumstances are such that the continuation of the scheme cannot

begin on a day falling within paragraph (a), on such later day as the

authority or authorities decide in accordance with regulations made by

the appropriate national authority for the purposes of such

circumstances.’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  221

Page  28,  line  28  [Clause  30],  leave out from ‘until’ to end of line 49 and insert—

‘(a)
in a case where the scheme is to continue in operation for a further period,

the day before the beginning of that period, or

(b)
in any other case, the scheme’s expiry date.’.

Norman Baker

Mr John Leech

Not called  54

Page  28,  line  36  [Clause  30],  leave out ‘approval’ and insert ‘consulting’.

Norman Baker

Mr John Leech

Not called  55

Page  28,  line  37  [Clause  30],  leave out ‘section 126’ and insert ‘section 125A’.

Norman Baker

Mr John Leech

Not called  56

Page  28,  line  40  [Clause  30],  leave out ‘approval’ and insert ‘consulting’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  222

Page  28,  line  49  [Clause  30],  at end insert—

‘( )
Section 130 (tendering) applies to a scheme that continues in operation under this

section (whether or not the proposal for the scheme to continue in operation was

an exempt continuation proposal) but subject to regulations made by the

appropriate national authority under section 133(3).”.’.

Report Stage Proceedings: 27th October 2008
838

Local Transport Bill [Lords], continued

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  223

Page  29,  line  1,  leave out Clause 31.

Norman Baker

Mr John Leech

Not called  57

Page  29  [Clause  31],  leave out line 4 and insert ‘(1) Section 125A (consideration of

proposed scheme)’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  224

Page  30  [Clause  32],  leave out lines 39 to 43 and insert—

‘(1)
This section applies where an authority or authorities who propose that a quality

contracts scheme should continue in operation (with or without modifications)

under section 131A—

(a)
decide that the proposal is an exempt continuation proposal, and

(b)
acting on the basis of that decision, decide that the scheme should so

continue in operation.’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  225

Page  30,  line  44  [Clause  32],  leave out from ‘person’ to ‘may’ in line 45 and insert

‘falling within subsection (2A)’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  226

Page  31  [Clause  32],  leave out line 2 and insert ‘an exempt continuation proposal, or’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  227

Page  31,  line  4  [Clause  32],  leave out ‘force’ and insert ‘operation’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  228

Page  31,  line  4  [Clause  32],  at end insert—

‘(2A)
The persons are—

(a)
any person who was consulted under section 125(3) (as it applies by

virtue of section 131A in a case where the proposal is an exempt

proposal),

(b)
any person who was not so consulted, but who, in the opinion of the

Transport Tribunal, ought to have been so consulted.’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  229

Page  31,  line  4  [Clause  32],  at end insert—

Report Stage Proceedings: 27th October 2008
839

Local Transport Bill [Lords], continued

‘(2B)
An appeal under this section may be—

(a)
on a point of law, or

(b)
on a question of fact.’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  230

Page  31,  line  4  [Clause  32],  at end insert—

‘(2C)
On an appeal under this section the Transport Tribunal shall have power—

(a)
to make such order as they think fit, or

(b)
to remit any matter (with or without directions) to the authority or

authorities for their consideration or determination or for such other

purposes as the Tribunal may direct.’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  231

Page  31  [Clause  32],  leave out lines 8 to 13 and insert—

‘(b)
remit the matter to the authority or authorities with one or more directions

under subsection (4),

(c)
direct the authority or authorities to vary the scheme, as it continues or is

to continue in operation, in such manner as the Tribunal may specify in

the direction (but see subsection (4A)),

(d)
quash the whole or any part of the decision of the authority or authorities

(but see subsection (4B)).’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  232

Page  31  [Clause  32],  leave out lines 18 to 20 and insert—

‘(b)
as respects those matters, consult or further consult the persons

mentioned in section 125(3) as it applies by virtue of section 131A in a

case where the proposal is an exempt continuation proposal,’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  233

Page  31,  line  21  [Clause  32],  leave out ‘modifications of the scheme’ and insert

‘variations of the scheme, as it continues or is to continue in operation,’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  234

Page  31,  line  22  [Clause  32],  at end insert—

‘(4A)
The Tribunal may give a direction under this section to vary a scheme by reducing

the area to which it relates only if they are of the opinion that the conditions in

section 132(3) are met.

(4B)
The power of the Tribunal under this section to quash a decision of an authority

or authorities that a scheme should continue in operation under section 131A is

exercisable only if the Tribunal are of the opinion that there are defects in the

scheme which are not capable of being remedied by varying the scheme under or

by virtue of subsection (3)(b) or (c).’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  235

Page  31  [Clause  32],  leave out lines 23 to 29 and insert—

Report Stage Proceedings: 27th October 2008
840

Local Transport Bill [Lords], continued

‘(5)
If, on an appeal under paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (2), the Tribunal decide

that the proposal for the scheme to continue in operation was not an exempt

continuation proposal—

(a)
they must allow the appeal to that extent,

(b)
they must remit the matter to the authority or authorities, with or without

directions, and

(c)
subsections (6) to (9) have effect.

(6)
The directions that the Tribunal may give under this section include—

(a)
directions to take any action specified in the directions for the purpose of

remedying any failure to comply with requirements of this Part that have

effect where a proposal for continuation under section 131A is not an

exempt continuation proposal,

(b)
directions to make variations specified in the directions for the purpose

of securing that the condition in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) of

section 131AA (meaning of “exempt continuation proposal”) is met in

the case of the scheme,

(c)
directions authorising the scheme to continue in operation temporarily,

with or without variations, for a period specified or described in the

directions, but subject to compliance with conditions as to the time within

which any particular action specified in directions under this section is to

be taken.

(7)
Where the Tribunal give directions falling within subsection (6), they may also

make provision in the order dispensing with the need to comply with such

procedural requirements imposed by or under this Part as they may specify in the

order.

(8)
If the scheme or proposed scheme relates to an area in Wales, the Tribunal may

not make any order which has the effect of—

(a)
giving approval under section 126 as it applies by virtue of section 131B,

or

(b)
dispensing with the need for any such approval,


but this is without prejudice to the temporary provision that may be made in

directions falling within subsection (6)(c).

(9)
The appropriate national authority may make regulations with respect to the

procedure to be followed in relation to a scheme in cases where the Tribunal

decide that the proposal for continuation under section 131A was not an exempt

continuation proposal.”.’.

Norman Baker

Mr John Leech

Not called  58

Page  31,  line  28  [Clause  32],  leave out ‘approval by appropriate approval’ and

insert ‘consulting by appropriate consulting’.

Secretary Geoff Hoon

Agreed to  236

Page  31,  line  33  [Clause  33],  leave out from ‘where’ to end of line 37 and insert ‘an

authority or authorities—

(a)
propose that a quality contracts scheme for an area in England should

continue in operation (with or without modifications) under section

131A,

(b)
decide that the proposal is not an exempt continuation proposal, and

(c)
acting on the basis of that decision, decide that the scheme should so

continue in operation.’.