Clause 1

Part of Concessionary Bus Travel Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee at 11:15 am on 5 June 2007.

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Photo of Stephen Hammond Stephen Hammond Shadow Minister (Transport) 11:15, 5 June 2007

I hear what the hon. Gentleman said about regulation. However, the amendment would be a major extension of the Bill. We tabled earlier amendments to test eligible services and the definition of disability, but this amendment would go way beyond the original thrust of the Bill. By giving the reserve power to extend, we would wander into the area of at least doubling the cost of the Bill’s provisions. There is already flexibility at local level, as we have seen in London, for concessions to be given to those in full-time education or those under 16. Even by giving the Secretary of State the power to change matters by regulation later, we would extend the principle of the Bill well beyond what we discussed earlier and, secondly, the cost implications would require a substantive Bill in itself. I am troubled by the amendment.