HC Deb 25 March 1980 vol 981 cc1302-3
Mr. Kenneth Clarke

I beg to move amendment No. 23, in page 14, line 9 after 'concerned', insert ', and to every district council in whose area passengers will be or are taken up or set down in the course of the service in question (including, in a case within paragraph (b), the service as proposed to be changed),'. This amendment meets the substance of one moved in Committee by my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mr. Mills). Once again, it was based on his concern that the district councils should be properly recognised in the new structure that we are setting up. It requires that operators should let districts as well as counties know of changes in the pattern of services which result from the changes that we propose in the Bill. My right hon. Friend agreed to consider that point when it was made in Committee. It seems to us to be an entirely worthwhile suggestion. We hope that it will lead to a useful level of co-operation developing between district councils, on the one hand, and operators and county councils on the other. I am glad to honour the undertaking that my right hon. Friend gave. I recommend the amendment to the House.

Mr. Booth

This amendment applies only to district councils in trial areas. They are in a special position when the trial is operating. I agree that they should be notified by operators if new services are to be brought into the areas or if services are to be withdrawn or changed. I hope that the proposal will lead to their making representations to the local and county authorities, which have the power to apply to Ministers for revocation. Where this happens, I hope that the Minister will be prepared to respond quickly. We know that there is a great deal at risk in this issue.

The initial decision by the Minister on a previous amendment allows him to make a designation for varying periods of from two to five years. If, for example, he designated one county as being a trial area for five years and if, after a couple of years, district councils prevailed upon the county council in their part of the county to accept that this area operation was such a disaster that they wanted a revocation, there should be a quick response.

Mr. Iain Mills

I thank my right hon. and hon. Friends for their comments in Committee. I wish to say how much Government supporters appreciate their action. We are glad about this demonstration of local democracy, which is so much part of the Government's philosophy.

Amendment agreed to.

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