Local Transport Bill [Lords]

Obviously, any time limit will be arbitrary. A line has to be drawn somewhere when dealing with my hon. Friend's basis for having an operator of last resort. Does he not accept, however, that if two major operators—which might or might not be involved in a future quality contract—were involved in a legal dispute, either with each other or with the integrated transport authority, the time taken might extend beyond 12 months? In those circumstances, there might be no incentives for any other bus operator to come into that area.