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Amendment proposed: No. 14, in page 77, line 44, at end insert
'and references to carrying, or to the carriage of, passengers by railway shall be construed accordingly.'.—[Mr. Norris.]
§ Madam SpeakerWith this it will be convenient to take Government amendments Nos. 15, 16, 167, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 83 and 108.
§ Dr. MarekWill the Minister say something about amendment No. 14? I have been looking out for the implementation of the car parking provisions. I wonder whether this group of amendments contains an amendment on that subject. That may be the case. If so, I apologise to the Minister.
There is a problem with car parking, certainly in the London area. It is feared that franchisees will use railway car parks for purposes other than car parking. Can the Minister help me on that matter?
§ Mr. NorrisI remember well the debates that we had in Committee on that point. The amendments make it clear that the term "station services" includes car parking. That means, for example, that where the clause 4 powers impose a duty on the regulator to protect the interests of users of railway services, that includes station services. That duty would include protecting the interests of the users of the car parks at stations.
To that extent, the amendment provides the hon. Gentleman with the reassurance that he seeks. He and I debated on a previous occasion the effect of planning law on surplus assets. That is perhaps more relevant to the point that the hon. Gentleman wanted to make. I have been advised that amendment No. 14 addresses the point that he made in Committee.
§ Amendment agreed to.
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Amendment made: No. 15, in page 77, line 46, at end insert—
'and, for the purposes of the above definitions of "network services" and "station services", where a person permits another to use any land or other property comprised in a network or station he shall be regarded as providing a service which falls within the meaning of "network services" or "station services", as the case may be.'.—[Mr. Arbuthnot.]