Local Transport Bill [HL]

I will deal with the second issue first. In those circumstances, one would expect the bus operator to enter into discussions and negotiations with the local authority. That may not be quite the same as saying that there is a form of redress, but it would be rather strange if the contract was not working and there was no facility or opportunity to revisit current arrangements and see what they are delivering and not delivering. One would expect that to happen in those terms. On the noble Lord’s first issue, the Community regulation applies, but there is a difference, which is what I was drawing attention to. The regulation recognises the difference by specifying a maximum of 15 years for rail contracts and 10 years for bus contracts. The extra 50 per cent on either limit for significant assets is not likely to be relevant to a contractor on bus services. This is because of the difference in the nature of the service being offered. I am happy to set out more of the rationale for the noble Lord when we pick up some of these issues in correspondence.