Transport (Wales) Bill

We have already been told that this traffic commissioner deals with two comparatively small areas. If we get another traffic commissioner, that is another salary and money that perhaps could be used elsewhere. I could say that he is the traffic commissioner for Wales who also happens to look after the West Midlands. The noble Lord says that he is the traffic commissioner for the West Midlands who also happens to look after Wales. Put the other way round, it sounds more acceptable. This is a matter of symbolic importance to the noble Lord rather than of practical concern. We may come back to it. Most of the business of the traffic commissioner is conducted by correspondence or telephone and the office in Birmingham seldom needs to be visited. Day-to-day presence in Wales is provided through the regional offices of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and the Assembly has enhanced the enforcement of bus registrations by finding two additional bus compliance offices. Turning to the additional functions that will be given to the Wales traffic commissioner by the new clause, the Government recognise that there could be potential problems where competing bus operators do not provide an even spacing of services along a route—a point made by the noble Lord, Lord Bradshaw. However, a consultation on the issue by the Office of Fair Trading found that this does not seem to be a widespread problem. Also, bus timetables are not solely driven by issues of competition or co-ordination. Operators need to time their services in ways that make the best use of the drivers and vehicles at their disposal. It is not always possible to co-ordinate timing with all overlapping services, even in a fully regulated network like London. At the very least, the traffic commissioner would need to consult the operators concerned. Therefore, the Government are not convinced that giving the commissioner the power to vary the timetables of commercial bus services is the best way to deal with co-ordination issues. In addition, it is unclear how a traffic commissioner in Wales or elsewhere would determine whether an agreement between operators as envisaged by Amendment No. 15 is in the public interest. The proposed amendment does not specify what test would be applied in making that judgment. Traffic commissioners’ current functions do not include, as I have said already, competition or economic regulation. Even if I have not completely satisfied noble Lords, I hope that I have given enough explanation to enable them to withdraw or not move their amendments.