§ Mr. Evennettasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has given any more detailed consideration to the operation of penalty fares systems on public transport.
§ Mr. David MitchellEarlier this year my right hon. Friend established a working group of officials from the Home Office, the Lord Chancellor's Department, London Regional Transport, and my Department to review the principles which should apply to penalty fares schemes on public transport. The group was asked, in particular, to review the penalty fares provisions of the London Regional Transport Act 1984. This was in line with the undertakings given to Parliament by the Government on 25 June 1984, at column 765, during consideration of the relevant sections of the London Regional Transport Act, that if further improvements could be identified before the penalty fare provisions were brought into effect we would be prepared to implement them in amending legislation. The working group was also asked to examine concerns which had been raised about the different powers contained in the London Docklands Railway Acts 1984 and 1985 and London Docklands Railway (City Extension) Bill. The working group has now reported and the Government have accepted its recommendations for changes to the existing legislation. My right hon. Friend has given LRT consent to deposit a private Bill seeking to amend the penalty fares provisions of the London Regional Transport and London Docklands Railways Act to bring them into line with the working group's recommendations. I have today deposited a copy of the working group's Report—"Penalty Fares on Public Transport" in the Library.