Clause 1
Local Transport Bill [Lords]
10:45 am
Rosie Winterton (Minister of State, Department for Transport; Doncaster Central, Labour)
I can envisage that power possibly being exercised. However, we need to look at some of the other proposed changes, such as allowing traffic commissioners to work not necessarily solely in their area, but sometimes in other areas. It has occurred to me recently, for example, that there are eight traffic areas but nine regions. There might be a point at some future time, if there was any kind of review, when that situation would change.
I understand that the traffic commissioner for the west midlands is also traffic commissioner for Wales. Again, it might be that—in the future, depending on some other changes in the Bill—one might want to look at whether having eight areas is appropriate. The clause will simply enable any other changes that might follow on from that to be made; it needs to be looked at in respect of some of the other changes that are being made.