My Lords, my noble friend Lady Warsi and I have added our names to Amendments 15 and 17. I declare my interest as leader of Essex County Council, past vice-chairman of the Local Government Association, chairman of the Essex Management Board and numerous other interests associated with my leadership of...

My Lords, my noble friend Lady Warsi and I have added our names to Amendments 15 and 17. I declare my interest as leader of Essex County Council, past vice-chairman of the Local Government Association, chairman of the Essex Management Board and numerous other interests associated with my leadership of...

My Lords, for once, I welcome a government amendment. While the Minister did not prescribe what level of local government is to be consulted, one assumes that the traffic commissioners would consult the relevant level. This is a welcome addition to the consultation processes in the Bill.

My Lords, for once, I welcome a government amendment. While the Minister did not prescribe what level of local government is to be consulted, one assumes that the traffic commissioners would consult the relevant level. This is a welcome addition to the consultation processes in the Bill.

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that answer. The amendment is tabled to try and make quality partnerships work better. Perhaps we have not always got the wording right but we prefer quality partnerships over quality contracts. The intention behind this amendment was to try and make them more...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that answer. The amendment is tabled to try and make quality partnerships work better. Perhaps we have not always got the wording right but we prefer quality partnerships over quality contracts. The intention behind this amendment was to try and make them more...

moved Amendment No. 2A: 2A: Clause 9, page 11, line 16, at end insert— ““(c) plans and strategies published by any relevant rail infrastructure manager,”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, in moving the amendment I shall speak also to Amendment No. 2B. We have decided to come back with...

moved Amendment No. 2A: 2A: Clause 9, page 11, line 16, at end insert— ““(c) plans and strategies published by any relevant rail infrastructure manager,”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, in moving the amendment I shall speak also to Amendment No. 2B. We have decided to come back with...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his answer. I said in my introduction that there are a lot of long lists of consultees in other parts of the Bill and I believe that it would have added to the Bill if we had put Network Rail in this...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his answer. I said in my introduction that there are a lot of long lists of consultees in other parts of the Bill and I believe that it would have added to the Bill if we had put Network Rail in this...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his answer, which is obviously similar to the one that I had in Committee. There is a theme running through the whole Bill about consultation and so on. We have had several discussions around it today. Perhaps, after today’s debate, we decide whether...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his answer, which is obviously similar to the one that I had in Committee. There is a theme running through the whole Bill about consultation and so on. We have had several discussions around it today. Perhaps, after today’s debate, we decide whether...

My Lords, although they have not gone the whole way, I thank the Government for this amendment. It makes total sense and should involve the non-metropolitan districts. I am grateful for the Government’s amendment. On Question, amendment agreed to. Clause 17 [Regulations about schemes which specify frequencies, timings or fares]:...

My Lords, although they have not gone the whole way, I thank the Government for this amendment. It makes total sense and should involve the non-metropolitan districts. I am grateful for the Government’s amendment. On Question, amendment agreed to. Clause 17 [Regulations about schemes which specify frequencies, timings or fares]:...

My Lords, my name is also on this amendment and I give it my wholehearted support. The noble Baroness, Lady Chapman, has been tireless in her work on this matter and we all want to commend her for that. I hope that we will support her today. As the noble...

My Lords, my name is also on this amendment and I give it my wholehearted support. The noble Baroness, Lady Chapman, has been tireless in her work on this matter and we all want to commend her for that. I hope that we will support her today. As the noble...

My Lords, what does the Minister think might be achieved between now and Third Reading, which is in about two weeks’ time?

My Lords, what does the Minister think might be achieved between now and Third Reading, which is in about two weeks’ time?

moved Amendment No. 2C: 2C: Clause 9, page 11, line 34, at end insert— ““(2C) (a) In preparing their local transport plan, the authority may create a bus partnership scheme. (b) A bus partnership scheme shall agree guidelines and seek consensus on bus routes, frequencies, fares and other matters that...

moved Amendment No. 2C: 2C: Clause 9, page 11, line 34, at end insert— ““(2C) (a) In preparing their local transport plan, the authority may create a bus partnership scheme. (b) A bus partnership scheme shall agree guidelines and seek consensus on bus routes, frequencies, fares and other matters that...

moved Amendment No. 27A: 27A: Clause 24, page 23, line 23, leave out ““who was consulted by the authority or authorities”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, this amendment was considered in Committee, but the response given by the noble Baroness, Lady Crawley, was somewhat unsatisfactory. We have had a...

moved Amendment No. 27A: 27A: Clause 24, page 23, line 23, leave out ““who was consulted by the authority or authorities”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, this amendment was considered in Committee, but the response given by the noble Baroness, Lady Crawley, was somewhat unsatisfactory. We have had a...

I shall speak to Clause 37 stand part. We are told that the Bill will put power into the hands of local transport authorities, and allow them to decide the appropriate mode of bus operation for their areas. I was therefore interested to see that Clause 37 allows the Secretary...

I shall speak to Clause 37 stand part. We are told that the Bill will put power into the hands of local transport authorities, and allow them to decide the appropriate mode of bus operation for their areas. I was therefore interested to see that Clause 37 allows the Secretary...

It is being talked about in local government circles.

It is being talked about in local government circles.

No one wants to be bogged down in consultation that is never-ending. I repeat, as the Minister said, that we are looking for some clarification and transparency about the processes. We will read carefully what he said today to make certain whether we want to clarify the matter any further...

No one wants to be bogged down in consultation that is never-ending. I repeat, as the Minister said, that we are looking for some clarification and transparency about the processes. We will read carefully what he said today to make certain whether we want to clarify the matter any further...

moved Amendment No. 23: 23: Clause 18, page 17, line 20, leave out subsection (2) The noble Lord said: I am uncertain that quality contracts are the right approach for local transport authorities to adopt. It is all too easy to forget the problems with the regulated market and to...

moved Amendment No. 23: 23: Clause 18, page 17, line 20, leave out subsection (2) The noble Lord said: I am uncertain that quality contracts are the right approach for local transport authorities to adopt. It is all too easy to forget the problems with the regulated market and to...

Does the noble Lord have knowledge of any authorities that want to take up quality contracts?

Does the noble Lord have knowledge of any authorities that want to take up quality contracts?

As the Minister knows, I am very much a localist, but during the course of the legislation, there was potential for having a national scheme operated centrally. There was the potential, as there is now, for running it through district councils in two-tier areas, but there was also the potential...

As the Minister knows, I am very much a localist, but during the course of the legislation, there was potential for having a national scheme operated centrally. There was the potential, as there is now, for running it through district councils in two-tier areas, but there was also the potential...

I thank the Minister for that answer. We have talked about partnership today. The problem that I have outlined is that those partnerships are breaking down. I realise that we cannot go any further on the matter today, but I hope that by the time we reach later stages of...

I thank the Minister for that answer. We have talked about partnership today. The problem that I have outlined is that those partnerships are breaking down. I realise that we cannot go any further on the matter today, but I hope that by the time we reach later stages of...

moved Amendment No. 62B: 62B: Clause 42, page 37, line 32, at end insert— ““(d) place minimum period of operation conditions on the applicant”” The noble Lord said: This amendment is further to the discussion that we had in the previous Committee sitting allowing registration restrictions within quality partnerships to...

moved Amendment No. 62B: 62B: Clause 42, page 37, line 32, at end insert— ““(d) place minimum period of operation conditions on the applicant”” The noble Lord said: This amendment is further to the discussion that we had in the previous Committee sitting allowing registration restrictions within quality partnerships to...

moved Amendment No. 62C: 62C: Clause 43, page 39, line 25, at end insert— ““(6A) If the traffic commissioner sees fit, guidance can be given to the authority to incorporate the proposed service into the quality contract scheme.”” The noble Lord said: The Bill’s proposals for the registration of new...

moved Amendment No. 62C: 62C: Clause 43, page 39, line 25, at end insert— ““(6A) If the traffic commissioner sees fit, guidance can be given to the authority to incorporate the proposed service into the quality contract scheme.”” The noble Lord said: The Bill’s proposals for the registration of new...