Clause 68
Local Transport Bill [Lords]
7:00 pm
Rosie Winterton (Minister of State, Department for Transport; Doncaster Central, Labour)
The amendments are directed at the powers included in the Bill to establish a Public Transport Users’ Committee for England. However, on 8 April, the Secretary of State announced that subject to further consultation on the details, it is proposed to confer additional functions on the Rail Passengers Council, Passenger Focus, to enable it to represent the interests of bus passengers. Amendments to the clause will not, therefore, have any immediate effect. I assure the hon. Gentleman that were we to set up a committee in that way, the powers in the Bill would be wide enough to enable a regional sub-committee network to be established if that was thought desirable. As I have indicated, those are matters for the future, and I hope that my reassurances will enable the hon. Gentleman to withdraw his amendment.