Department for Transport proposals for local transport
Department for Transport consultation (97 pages, PDF) on a draft Local Transport Bill (77 pages, PDF), draft explanatory notes (37 pages, PDF) and draft impact assessment (75 pages, PDF).
Most of the provisions only affect England (excluding London) or Wales.
The proposals relating to bus markets are amendments to the Transport Act 2000, to allow a degree of re-regulation as announced in December 2006. The main proposals are:
- to introduce some Article 81(3) wording in a revised version of the Transport Act 2000 competition test;
- to disapply Section 2 of the Competition Act 1998 in the case of agreements that pass this competition test (Article 81 would continue to apply to agreements that may affect cross-border trade);
- to allow agreements on fares and timetables between a local authority and several bus operators, subject to the competition test;
- to allow local authorities to regulate fares and timetables through quality partnerships;
- to allow local authorities to introduce compulsory bus franchising arrangements and "suspend" the competitive market in their area, even if it is not the "only practicable way" of implementing their bus strategy;
- to make changes to the role and structure of the traffic commissioners, with the creation of an office of the senior traffic commissioner.
- to transfer of the Secretary of State's approval functions in England to a new approval board chaired by the senior traffic commissioner and subject to appeal to the Transport Tribunal.
Responses by Friday 7 September 2007.
For further information or advice please contact Franck Latrémolière.
Filed under DfT, Rail & bus.
