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Local Transport Bill [HL]

I am grateful to the noble Lord for his explanation. The answer lies in an understanding of the Transport Act 2000. Section 173 of that Act already allows the appropriate national authority to make regulations specifying who is liable to pay the penalty charges. Those regulations allow us to accommodate the request that the noble Lord has set out and which does not need to be put into the Bill. We understand where the noble Lord is coming from. As local authorities submit proposals and we start to make the necessary regulations, we will also consult those who represent the vehicle renting and leasing companies to ensure that we fully understand their requirements. The legislation therefore already addresses the noble Lord’s point. I make the important commitment that we will consult further to ensure that the specific interest group is consulted in detail.