Frequently Asked Questions about buses and taxis, including funding, regulation, complaints, greener vehicles, cross-border taxis, and concessionary bus travel.

Frequently Asked Questions about buses and taxis, including funding, regulation, complaints, greener vehicles, cross-border taxis, and concessionary bus travel.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to reform the role of the Traffic Commissioner function for Great Britain.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to reform the role of the Traffic Commissioner function for Great Britain.

Amendment 46 to clause 7 negatived on division (2 to 11). Amendment 47 to clause 7 negatived on division (2 to 11). Amendment 48 to clause 7 negatived on division (2 to 11). Clause 7, as amended, agreed to. Clauses 8 and 9 agreed to. Amendment 57 to clause 10, discussed with Government new clause 4 and new clauses 15 and 36, negatived on division (5 to 10). Clauses 10 to 12 agreed to. Schedule, as amended, agreed to. Clause 13 agreed to. Amendment 66 to clause 14 negatived on division (5 to 10). Amendment 54 to clause 14 negatived on division (3 to 10). Clause 14 under consideration. Written evidence reported to the House.

Amendment 46 to clause 7 negatived on division (2 to 11). Amendment 47 to clause 7 negatived on division (2 to 11). Amendment 48 to clause 7 negatived on division (2 to 11). Clause 7, as amended, agreed to. Clauses 8 and 9 agreed to. Amendment 57 to clause 10,...

Clause 3, discussed with new clause 35, agreed to. Clauses 4 to 6 agreed to. Clause 7 under consideration.

Clause 3, discussed with new clause 35, agreed to. Clauses 4 to 6 agreed to. Clause 7 under consideration.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department is taking steps to introduce formal tribunal rules for traffic commissioner tribunal functions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department is taking steps to introduce formal tribunal rules for traffic commissioner tribunal functions.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the powers of traffic commissioners.

Whether her Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of the powers of traffic commissioners.

Moved by

Baroness Pidgeon

49: After Clause 27, insert the following new Clause—

“Impact on rural areas

(1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must lay before Parliament a report detailing the impacts of the provisions of this Act on rural areas.

(2) For the...

Moved by

Baroness Pidgeon

49: After Clause 27, insert the following new Clause—

“Impact on rural areas

(1) Within six months of the day on which this Act is passed, the Secretary of State must lay before Parliament a report detailing the impacts of the provisions of this Act on rural areas.

(2) For the...

Amendment 49 picks up on a crucial issue that I highlighted at Second Reading and said would be a key theme from these Benches: ensuring that rural areas receive a proper bus service for those often isolated and smaller communities. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Hampton, and the noble...

Amendment 49 picks up on a crucial issue that I highlighted at Second Reading and said would be a key theme from these Benches: ensuring that rural areas receive a proper bus service for those often isolated and smaller communities. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Hampton, and the noble...

My Lords, I rise to speak to my Amendment 62. The amendment from the noble Baroness, Lady Pidgeon, to which she has just spoken, is a very relevant one, and I think I spoke a little bit about it previously.

I suggest that it is important to know what we mean...

My Lords, I rise to speak to my Amendment 62. The amendment from the noble Baroness, Lady Pidgeon, to which she has just spoken, is a very relevant one, and I think I spoke a little bit about it previously.

I suggest that it is important to know what we mean...

My Lords, this is an eclectic mix of amendments. My Amendment 53 focuses on effective governance arrangements, which are key to an effective transfer of powers to local transport authorities, leading to effective delivery of these significant and welcome changes to improve public bus services. The Government’s devolution proposals to...

My Lords, this is an eclectic mix of amendments. My Amendment 53 focuses on effective governance arrangements, which are key to an effective transfer of powers to local transport authorities, leading to effective delivery of these significant and welcome changes to improve public bus services. The Government’s devolution proposals to...

My Lords, I will speak briefly to Amendment 49, to which I added my name. I will also speak to Amendment 78 tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Jones. These are two very similar amendments saying pretty much the same thing. Their timeframe is different, but if we are to...

My Lords, I will speak briefly to Amendment 49, to which I added my name. I will also speak to Amendment 78 tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Jones. These are two very similar amendments saying pretty much the same thing. Their timeframe is different, but if we are to...

My Lords, I will speak to Amendment 49, to which my name is attached, and remind your Lordships that I am president of the Local Government Association. From 2011 to 2023, England saw a 20% reduction in bus service provision, adjusted to a 28% per capita decrease amid population growth....

My Lords, I will speak to Amendment 49, to which my name is attached, and remind your Lordships that I am president of the Local Government Association. From 2011 to 2023, England saw a 20% reduction in bus service provision, adjusted to a 28% per capita decrease amid population growth....

My Lords, it is impossible to disagree with the amendment that the Committee is discussing. We have heard the usual comprehensive proposals from the noble Baroness, Lady Pidgeon. I rise only to ask that if she is not happy—and none of us could be happy about the decline in rural...

My Lords, it is impossible to disagree with the amendment that the Committee is discussing. We have heard the usual comprehensive proposals from the noble Baroness, Lady Pidgeon. I rise only to ask that if she is not happy—and none of us could be happy about the decline in rural...

We have not blamed anybody. That is not fair.

We have not blamed anybody. That is not fair.

Well, life is not fair. These are the realities of running bus services. I just remind the noble Baroness who accuses me of not being fair that I used to chair a major bus operator. It was employee-owned for much of the time and faced the same financial constraints and...

Well, life is not fair. These are the realities of running bus services. I just remind the noble Baroness who accuses me of not being fair that I used to chair a major bus operator. It was employee-owned for much of the time and faced the same financial constraints and...

Stop being snide. I am sorry—I should not intervene, as I came late.

Stop being snide. I am sorry—I should not intervene, as I came late.

As far as I have heard on this third day in Committee and at Second Reading, there has been a majority consensus for the Government’s proposals. What we are trying to do is to draw out those issues that we hope the Government will be able to address. One, as...

As far as I have heard on this third day in Committee and at Second Reading, there has been a majority consensus for the Government’s proposals. What we are trying to do is to draw out those issues that we hope the Government will be able to address. One, as...

I wonder if I could interrupt the noble Baroness to say that I hope that she realises that this Bill does not give the Government powers to run bus services. The whole point of this Bill is to give powers to local government to run bus services. When she says,...

I wonder if I could interrupt the noble Baroness to say that I hope that she realises that this Bill does not give the Government powers to run bus services. The whole point of this Bill is to give powers to local government to run bus services. When she says,...

My Lords I am grateful to everyone who has spoken in this debate. We on our side are supportive of the importance of taking into account the needs of people dwelling in rural areas. Indeed, we have our own amendment to a very similar effect in a later group, which...

My Lords I am grateful to everyone who has spoken in this debate. We on our side are supportive of the importance of taking into account the needs of people dwelling in rural areas. Indeed, we have our own amendment to a very similar effect in a later group, which...

My Lords, Amendment 49 in the names of the noble Baronesses, Lady Pidgeon and Lady Grey-Thompson, and the noble Lord, Lord Hampton, and Amendment 78 tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Jones, seek to place a statutory requirement on reviewing the Bill’s impact on rural areas and villages. I also...

My Lords, Amendment 49 in the names of the noble Baronesses, Lady Pidgeon and Lady Grey-Thompson, and the noble Lord, Lord Hampton, and Amendment 78 tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Jones, seek to place a statutory requirement on reviewing the Bill’s impact on rural areas and villages. I also...