Clause 68
Local Transport Bill [Lords]
7:00 pm
Stephen Hammond (Shadow Minister, Transport; Wimbledon, Conservative)
The amendments are designed to probe the powers and functions of the committee and the powers of the Secretary of State in relation to the committee. First, I am slightly confused by subsection (3)(a) to proposed new section 125B, which will be inserted in the Transport Act 1985. It states that the Secretary of State may
“confer further functions on the Committee”.
Given that the committee already has the power by virtue of the preceding subsection to consider and make recommendations on
“any such matter if asked to do so by the Secretary of State”,
I am left wondering what further functions the Secretary of State might want the committee to have. The Minster will need to clarify that for hon. Members.
The same subsection states that the Secretary of State may
“transfer any functions of the Committee to another person (including the Secretary of State).”
I would be interested to know in exactly what circumstances the Minster thinks that that is likely to occur. I cannot think of any circumstances in which it would be appropriate for the Secretary of State to transfer the functions of the committee to themselves and thereby act as the bus passenger champion. For instance, does the same provision exist when the committee acts as the rail passenger watchdog and, if so, has it ever been used?
Finally, I would like to probe subsection 9 of proposed new section 125B, which states:
“The Committee may do anything which is calculated to facilitate, or is conducive or incidental to, the discharge of any of its functions.”
That seems like a wide remit, and I wonder what the committee might do in practice. There are well-stated powers, obligations and responsibilities, so what is the “anything” that the committee may do? We are obviously in favour of giving powers to Passenger Focus to become the bus passenger watchdog, but I am looking for reassurance that the body will have the appropriate powers.