Bill clause dropped
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THE GOVERNMENT has backtracked on its proposals to allow operators and other interested parties to make representations on applications for operators' licences.
In a sudden change of heart, the Government has dropped .Clause 22 entirely from the Transport Bill, following protests from Conservative MP Christopher Chope who claimed that the clause was an unreasonable attack on business confidentiality.
Junior Transport Minister David Mitchell, accepting his arguments, said the clause was "unnecessary".
Shadow Transport Secretary Gwyneth Dunwoody accused Transport Secretary Nicholas Ridley of staging a "bogus Tory revolt" because he was frightened by likely hostility to the Bill in the House of Lords.
• The Government is considering changing the date of Dday for buses.
Junior Transport Minister David Mitchell told the committee considering the Transport Bill that he would think again about the proposed date of deregulation, which is currently set for October 1, 1986.
MPs have complained that October 1 was a Wednesday and that it would be much better to introduce deregulation on a Sunday. Mr Mitchell said he understood the force of their argument and promised to see whether the date should be changed.
• Last week the Commons agreed to guillotine discussion on the Bill.