Clause 12 - Regulations and orders

Part of Railways and Transport Safety Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 11:00 am on 6 February 2003.

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Photo of Anne McIntosh Anne McIntosh Shadow Minister (Transport) 11:00, 6 February 2003

We are still no nearer to defining the meaning of ''transitional''. If the regulations are modelled on those governing the marine accident investigation branch, which have existed for some considerable time, but not for as long as those that govern the aviation accident investigation branch, why should the Government need to have transitional provisions?

The Minister will know that, in most circumstances, the Opposition have a strong, almost religious, belief that all regulations should be passed under affirmative resolution procedure. However, as the Minister just reminded the Committee, the regulations under the two Acts that set up the marine and aviation equivalents were passed under statutory instrument, which weakens the argument. Will the Minister confirm that ''transitional'' regulations will be used only in the rarest of circumstances in cases where the regulations relating to transport bodies already exist? After all, he admitted that those bodies work extremely well under those regulations. I do not understand why we need transitional regulations.