Local Transport Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 58: 58: Clause 37, page 33, line 35, at end insert— ““( ) Before issuing or modifying any guidance under this section the appropriate national authority must consult— (a) any local transport authority that may be affected by the guidance; and (b) such other persons as the appropriate national authority thinks appropriate. ( ) Any guidance issued or modified under this section is to have effect in accordance with an order made, in the case of guidance relating to England, by the Secretary of State or, in the case of guidance relating to Wales, by the Welsh Ministers. ( ) An order under this section shall not be made unless— (a) in the case of guidance relating to England, a draft of the order has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament; and (b) in the case of guidance relating to Wales, a draft of the order has been laid before and approved by a resolution of the National Assembly for Wales.”” The noble Lord said: Bearing in mind that the wording of the amendment is fairly lengthy, it is straightforward—at least, it is if I have correctly understood the Bill. Clause 37 allows for the ““appropriate national authority”” to issue guidance to local transport authorities on quality contract schemes. The effect of my amendment would be to ensure that statutory guidance about quality contract schemes was subject to appropriate consultation. My amendment refers to the appropriate national authority consulting, "““any local transport authority that may be affected by the guidance””," and parliamentary scrutiny. It provides that, "““in the case of guidance relating to England, a draft of the order has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament””." I tabled this amendment to ensure that that quality contract scheme guidance is subject to full consultation and parliamentary scrutiny, since that guidance could be fundamental to whether quality contract schemes get off the ground or not. I beg to move.