Clause 59
Local Transport Bill [Lords]
6:00 pm
Rosie Winterton (Minister of State, Department for Transport; Doncaster Central, Labour)
What we want to achieve is to give a traffic commissioner more choice in the sanctions that can be imposed against operators in such circumstances. The hon. Gentleman is right to say that a traffic commissioner can fine an operator up to £550 for every vehicle operated under the licence. That penalty is paid into the general fund. The problem is that that could worsen the position for passengers, because the operator may simply pass on the cost of that fine through higher fares without making any improvement to the services. When an operator provides a bad service, there should be a way in which sanctions can be used to bring direct benefit to those passengers who have been affected. Ideas, such as offering free or reduced travel, were developed in collective discussions in the Bus Partnership Forum, which is a collective of industry, local authorities and others, including the senior traffic commissioner.
By giving traffic commissioners a range of options, they will be able to assess what is right on a case-by-case basis, taking into account local circumstances. Sometimes, it might be appropriate to give some free or reduced fare travel. Having that flexibility can only add value to the work of the traffic commissioners. If the operator was not happy with the sanction that had been taken, it has the right to appeal to the Transport Tribunal. I hope that the Committee will agree that these are sensible additions to the tools available to traffic commissioners and that the hon. Member for Wimbledon can be persuaded to withdraw his amendment.