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Concessionary Bus Travel Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 5: 5: Clause 3, page 3, line 32, at end insert— ““(4) Amend section 150 of the 2000 Act (procedure for reimbursement arrangements determined by authority) as follows. (5) In subsection (4)— (a) for ““subsection (3)”” substitute ““subsection (3)(a)””; (b) for ““28 days”” substitute ““56 days””. (6) After subsection (4) insert— ““(4A) An application under subsection (3)(b) shall be made by notice in writing given not later than 28 days after the dateon which the arrangements, or the variations, come into operation.”””” The noble Lord said: My Lords, this returns to a subject we discussed both in Grand Committee and on Report, where we drew attention to the fact that the appeal period after a scheme is implemented is too short for an operator to make a meaningful appeal on the basis of any information which he might have to hand. We have sought, through discussion—for which I thank the Minister—to draft an amendment. Amendments Nos. 5 and 9 provide the longer period of 56 days for that appeal to take place. I am sure that as a result there will be fewer appeals and less bureaucracy and I think that the bus industry will be very satisfied that this is a step in the right direction. I beg to move.