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Local Transport Bill [HL]

My Lords, more than one of the possible scenarios that I suggested—I accepted that they would be exceptional—related to legal proceedings being taken over a decision to dispense with the services of a quality contract operator, or as regards an argument between quality contract operators in the independent transport authority over who should take over an existing quality contract after the original operator had ceased to operate the services. Does my noble friend accept that that is a possible scenario, or does he dismiss that possibility? If he accepts that it is a possible scenario involving legal proceedings, does he not accept that those legal proceedings could go on for a considerable period, and that it is therefore not unrealistic to build in a provision which would enable us to go beyond the 12 months where it was proved that there were exceptional circumstances? If we find ourselves in that scenario, what happens the day after the 12 months are up?