HL Deb 29 January 2003 vol 643 c168WA
Lord Berkeley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What legislation would be required to create a single English traffic area for traffic commissioners. [HL1234]

The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston)

For the purposes of administering the licensing of operators of public services and of heavy goods vehicles, Great Britain is divided into Scottish, Welsh and six English traffic areas. To create a single English traffic area would require an order under Section 3(2) of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 (as amended).

Lord Berkeley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have for merging the six regional traffic areas; whether such proposals have the support of the traffic commissioners for England and the senior traffic commissioner; and whether such a proposal is consistent with the Government's policies of devolution of powers to the English regions. [HL1235]

Lord Macdonald of Tradeston

The Government are considering proposals for simplifying the administration of the system for licensing operators of public service vehicles and heavy goods vehicles. These include the organisation of traffic areas, which is not currently based on English regions. We will be consulting interested parties in due course.