§ Order for Second Reading read
§ 10.0 p.m.
The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Dr. Shirley Summer-skill)I beg to move that the Bill be now read a Second time.
This is a small, but—the Government believe—a significant Bill designed to extend the powers of the police to deal with misconduct on buses and tranmcars
I think we are all aware of the increase in violence and hooliganism on public transport in recent years. Busmen have been particularly at risk, exposed as they are to the drunken and loutish misbehaviour of some of their passengers. Public transport staff provide a public service. In many cases they work inconvenient hours to provide the rest of us with our essential means of travel. They deserve our support against the minority of hooligans—
§ It being Ten o'clock, Mr. SPEAKER interrupted the Business.