Clause 68
Local Transport Bill [Lords]
7:00 pm
Stephen Hammond (Shadow Minister, Transport; Wimbledon, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 267, in clause 68, page 57, line 23, at end insert—
‘(ea) about the making of an annual report on the discharge of functions and financial situation of the Committee to—
(i) the Secretary of State,
(ii) all local transport authorities,
(iii) both Houses of Parliament, and
(iv) such other person, if any, as the Secretary of State may determine.’.
The Committee will not be surprised to learn that the amendment does not require much in the way of introduction. It continues the theme that I have followed throughout about consultation and accountability. The new bus passenger watchdog should make an annual report in which it describes its activities during the year and the state of its finances. We should state in the Bill exactly where that report should go. It should go to the Secretary of State and all local transport authorities and it should be available to both Houses of Parliament and—in the usual exhaustive provision—
“such other person...as the Secretary of State may determine.”.
The amendment would effectively give the Secretary of State power to include a provision about such a report in the order that she makes, for the purpose of establishing the Public Transport Users’ Committee for England. It should not be controversial. If we are to create that body and put it on a statutory basis, we must ensure that it is accountable and does the job it was set up to do. All other organisations produce similar annual reports, which generally prove a relatively effective way of reviewing their work. I hope that the Minister will be persuaded to accept my entirely sensible amendment.