Is not my hon. Friend fully justified in using the phrase ““stealth taxes”” in relation to congestion charging, because in the Bill the word ““congestion”” does not appear? The reference is to road charging schemes. Such a scheme would not necessarily have to have reducing congestion as its main aim....

Is not my hon. Friend fully justified in using the phrase ““stealth taxes”” in relation to congestion charging, because in the Bill the word ““congestion”” does not appear? The reference is to road charging schemes. Such a scheme would not necessarily have to have reducing congestion as its main aim....

I do not see this as an instance of hypothecation. The charges are about transport. They should be devoted to transport. A central concern for the Opposition on this part of the Bill is that on local charging schemes, the Government are trying to have it both ways. On the...

I do not see this as an instance of hypothecation. The charges are about transport. They should be devoted to transport. A central concern for the Opposition on this part of the Bill is that on local charging schemes, the Government are trying to have it both ways. On the...

Local Transport Bill (HL). Second reading debate. Amendment negatived on division (347 votes to 156). Main question agreed to on question. Programme motion on proceedings in Committee, Report, Third reading and other proceedings agreed to on question. Money resolution agreed to on question. Ways and means resolution agreed to on question. Relevant documents: The Ninth Report from the Transport Committee, Session 2006-07, on the draft Local Transport Bill and the Transport Innovation Fund, HC 692, and the Government's Response, HC 1053.

Local Transport Bill (HL). Second reading debate. Amendment negatived on division (347 votes to 156). Main question agreed to on question. Programme motion on proceedings in Committee, Report, Third reading and other proceedings agreed to on question. Money resolution agreed to on question. Ways and means resolution agreed to on...

The hon. Lady is being very generous. Do I understand that the Conservative party now supports hypothecation? If that is the case, can she remind me when the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) announced that policy?

The hon. Lady is being very generous. Do I understand that the Conservative party now supports hypothecation? If that is the case, can she remind me when the hon. Member for Tatton (Mr. Osborne) announced that policy?

I agree. The Bill does include penalties. The important point is that the penalties should be real, not ones that could be passed on to the bus customer or the local authorities. The Bill also makes provision for the creation of integrated transport authorities that would replace metropolitan passenger authorities...

I agree. The Bill does include penalties. The important point is that the penalties should be real, not ones that could be passed on to the bus customer or the local authorities. The Bill also makes provision for the creation of integrated transport authorities that would replace metropolitan passenger authorities...

My hon. Friend's point is incredibly valuable. I know of bus services that are cancelled, delayed, taken off—nobody knows about it and nobody answers when we ask why. Is my hon. Friend suggesting that a system of penalties should be included in the Bill so that operators know that if...

My hon. Friend's point is incredibly valuable. I know of bus services that are cancelled, delayed, taken off—nobody knows about it and nobody answers when we ask why. Is my hon. Friend suggesting that a system of penalties should be included in the Bill so that operators know that if...

Indeed; I confirm that. The north east regional youth assembly and its offshoot called Bus Buddies have done a tremendous job in promoting young people's use of buses in the region.

Indeed; I confirm that. The north east regional youth assembly and its offshoot called Bus Buddies have done a tremendous job in promoting young people's use of buses in the region.

Does my hon. Friend agree that the young people whom we have met in the north-east have made an extremely valid case in favour of having such support from local authorities and the Government as they continue their education?

Does my hon. Friend agree that the young people whom we have met in the north-east have made an extremely valid case in favour of having such support from local authorities and the Government as they continue their education?

The point of the way in which the Bill is framed in the context of the Welsh Assembly, for example, is for the Assembly to decide whether or not road charging is appropriate. Instead of being dictated from this place, the matter should be devolved to Wales to be decided...

The point of the way in which the Bill is framed in the context of the Welsh Assembly, for example, is for the Assembly to decide whether or not road charging is appropriate. Instead of being dictated from this place, the matter should be devolved to Wales to be decided...

I rise to support the Bill and oppose the amendment. My contribution will be brief, but I want to welcome the Bill. This Second Reading follows last night's approval of the financial regime for the new national concessionary fares scheme; together with this Bill, that spells a good week for...

I rise to support the Bill and oppose the amendment. My contribution will be brief, but I want to welcome the Bill. This Second Reading follows last night's approval of the financial regime for the new national concessionary fares scheme; together with this Bill, that spells a good week for...

I shall come to that clause in a moment. I am astounded that the Bill seeks to water down the requirements to consult local communities on charging schemes. The Opposition will strongly oppose clause 104, which contains the same text as the much-criticised clause 73 of the draft Bill, which...

I shall come to that clause in a moment. I am astounded that the Bill seeks to water down the requirements to consult local communities on charging schemes. The Opposition will strongly oppose clause 104, which contains the same text as the much-criticised clause 73 of the draft Bill, which...

The Minister is indicating that she has met Bus Buddies members, and I am sure that she is as impressed as we in the region are by the work that they have done. The Bill also deals with local congestion charging or road charging, which, while it may have its...

The Minister is indicating that she has met Bus Buddies members, and I am sure that she is as impressed as we in the region are by the work that they have done. The Bill also deals with local congestion charging or road charging, which, while it may have its...

indicated assent.

indicated assent.

Let me begin by welcoming the Bill and indicating clearly that my colleagues and I will support its Second Reading. That is not to say that we do not have problems with it—naturally, we do—and we will seek to raise some of those this afternoon and again in Committee. However,...

Let me begin by welcoming the Bill and indicating clearly that my colleagues and I will support its Second Reading. That is not to say that we do not have problems with it—naturally, we do—and we will seek to raise some of those this afternoon and again in Committee. However,...

Can the hon. Gentleman be a bit more precise about what could be done to amend the Bill to cover that point? Surely it would not be possible to amend the Bill to allow a situation where such a small company could be protected and possibly compensated without opening the...

Can the hon. Gentleman be a bit more precise about what could be done to amend the Bill to cover that point? Surely it would not be possible to amend the Bill to allow a situation where such a small company could be protected and possibly compensated without opening the...

That is a fair point and leads me to the approvals board and the arrangements that the Minister described in her opening comments. She made a sustainable case that there should be external validation of such contracts. That is right. If there were no external validation, I am persuaded that...

That is a fair point and leads me to the approvals board and the arrangements that the Minister described in her opening comments. She made a sustainable case that there should be external validation of such contracts. That is right. If there were no external validation, I am persuaded that...

I intend to be fairly brief, because I fully expected a 10-minute limit on speeches, given the importance of the debate. However, the lack of Opposition Members in the Chamber has given us an unexpected amount of time in which to make our speeches. Obviously I welcome the Bill. It...

I intend to be fairly brief, because I fully expected a 10-minute limit on speeches, given the importance of the debate. However, the lack of Opposition Members in the Chamber has given us an unexpected amount of time in which to make our speeches. Obviously I welcome the Bill. It...

And Merseyside.

And Merseyside.

The hon. Gentleman makes a number of interesting points. Would he accept, however, that the Bill allows local authorities to introduce plans for their area that can include a combination of commercial routes, community transport and subsidised services? That should enable greater flexibility and, hopefully, a greater meeting of local...

The hon. Gentleman makes a number of interesting points. Would he accept, however, that the Bill allows local authorities to introduce plans for their area that can include a combination of commercial routes, community transport and subsidised services? That should enable greater flexibility and, hopefully, a greater meeting of local...

I accept that the Bill does that, and that would be an ideal solution. Clearly, it is not in the interests of a local authority to run Norfolk Green or a similar company out of town. It ought to use such a company's expertise in part of the contract. Nor...

I accept that the Bill does that, and that would be an ideal solution. Clearly, it is not in the interests of a local authority to run Norfolk Green or a similar company out of town. It ought to use such a company's expertise in part of the contract. Nor...