Passengers’ Council (Non-Railway Functions) Order 2010

My Lords, I draw the attention of the Committee to the fact that I was chairman of the Bus Appeals Body for some time, and I have worked considerably in the bus industry. I start by expressing my great disappointment that the order is necessary. Bus Users UK and the Bus Appeals Body fulfil quite adequately the functions described in the order, at no cost to the taxpayer. It is interesting to note that, in the papers that we were given, attention was drawn to the fact that there was wide support for the order. I wonder whether there was wide support from other than very interested and partial supporters of the order. I am sure that a lot of the support came from places like the Passenger Transport Executive Group, which has adequate consultation procedures within its own boundaries. It is important to understand that the way in which the Bus Appeals Body worked was that people who had made representations to a bus company and had failed to get a satisfactory answer were able to come to the Bus Appeals Body. While I was chairman, we made representations to bus companies, up to almost managing director level. In every case, except for one very small operator in Norfolk which should not have had a licence anyway, the complaint was always satisfied. When the Local Transport Act, to which this order is attached, was going through the House, I explained all this, but it fell on deaf ears. I am afraid that the Government are too fascinated with creating more bureaucracy and more steps in the complaints process than is necessary. If another body is put in, the complaint will be referred up until it gets to the top. I have great respect for Passenger Focus. This legislation is unnecessary and I would be interested to hear whether the Minister has any more justification than he had when he turned down my amendment during the passage of the Bill.