Two bus Bills in Queen's Speech
Page 20
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
NEXT WEEK'S Queen's Speech will see promised legislation on two areas of key importance to the bus industry.
The Queen will confirm on Tuesday that the Government is to bring in a Bill to deregulate bus services, as well as the long-awaited legislation to abolish the metropolitan county councils, which will have a considerable impact on bus services in the major conurbations.
It is thought possible that the Government will try to introduce the bus deregulation Bill fairly early as one of the major pieces of legislation in the session, as is the local government reform.
Both Bills will take up an enormous amount of Parliamentary time and the Government will do well to avoid guillotining both Bills at some stage.
Although the buses White Paper has come in for considerable criticism, Transport Secretary Nicholas Ridley is unlikely to change many of the details in the Bill to implement the White Paper.