Law

Transport Act 1985

United Kingdom · statute

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In force since 2026-06-30, as the publisher states.

Copy read on 2026-11-08. The page it was read from

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.

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Contents: 187 provisions
  1. Title and introductory text
  2. 1 Abolition of road service licensing.
  3. 2 Local services.
  4. 3 Traffic commissioners.
  5. 4 Inquiries held by traffic commissioners.
  6. 5 Assistance for traffic commissioners in considering financial questions.
  7. 6 Registration of local services.
  8. 6ZA Provision of service information when varying or cancelling registration
  9. 6ZB Provision of service information: extent of permissible disclosure
  10. 6ZC Provision of service information: further provision and consultation
  11. 6A Applications for registration etc where restrictions are in force
  12. 6B Applications for registration where quality contracts scheme in force
  13. 6C Variation or cancellation of registration: service information
  14. 6D Applications for registration where an enhanced partnership scheme is in operation
  15. 6E Cancellation and control of registration where enhanced partnership scheme is in operation
  16. 6F Enhanced partnership schemes: appeals
  17. 6G Traffic commissioner functions where an enhanced partnership scheme in operation
  18. 6H Fees relating to relevant registration functions
  19. 6I Records of registration etc
  20. 6J Contracting out of registration functions: fees
  21. 6K Application for registration where service standard has effect
  22. 6L Cancellation of registration when operational service standards not met
  23. 6M Power to make regulations for appeals against service standards decisions
  24. 6N Scrutiny of operation of bus services improvement partnership
  25. 7 Application of traffic regulation conditions to local services subject to registration under section 6.
  26. 8 Enforcement of traffic regulation conditions, etc.
  27. 9 Appeals against traffic regulation conditions.
  28. 10 Immediate hiring of taxis at separate fares.
  29. 11 Advance booking of taxis and hire cars at separate fares.
  30. 12 Use of taxis or hire cars in providing local services.
  31. 13 Provisions supplementary to sections 10 to 12.
  32. 13A Application of sections 10 to 13 to London
  33. 14 Operation of taxis and private hire cars in Scotland for the carriage of passengers at separate fares.
  34. 15 Extension of taxi licensing in England and Wales.
  35. 16 Taxi licensing: control of numbers.
  36. 17 London taxi and taxi driver licensing: appeals.
  37. 18 Exemption from PSV operator and driver licensing requirements of vehicles used under permits.
  38. 19 Permits in relation to use of public service vehicles by educational and other bodies
  39. 20 Further provision with respect to permits under section 19.
  40. 21 Permits under section 19: regulations.
  41. 22 Community bus permits.
  42. 23 Further provision with respect to community bus permits.
  43. 23A Power to limit permits under section 19 or 22 to 5 years
  44. 24 Limit on number of vehicles to be used under a restricted licence.
  45. 25 Objections to application for PSV operator’s licence.
  46. 26 Conditions attached to PSV operator’s licence.
  47. 27 Supplementary provisions with respect to conditions attached to PSV operator’s licence under section 26.
  48. 27A Additional powers where service not operated as registered
  49. 27B Provisions supplementing section 27A
  50. 28 Power to disqualify PSV operators.
  51. 29 Duty to give Secretary of State information about certain matters.
  52. 30 Plying for hire by large public service vehicles.
  53. 31 Appeals under the 1981 Act.
  54. 32 Repeal of sections 28, 47 and 48 of the 1981 Act.
  55. 33 Extension of safety controls to certain passenger vehicles other than public service vehicles.
  56. 34 London local services.
  57. 35 London local service licences.
  58. 36 London bus services under control of London Regional Transport.
  59. 37 Grant of licences.
  60. 38 Conditions attached to licences.
  61. 39 Grant of licences for certain excursions or tours.
  62. 40 Revocation and suspension of licences.
  63. 41 Duration of licences.
  64. 42 Appeals to the Secretary of State.
  65. 43 Further appeals on points of law.
  66. 44 Application of provisions of the 1981 Act.
  67. 45 Interpretation of Part II.
  68. 46 Power of Secretary of State to repeal Part II.
  69. 47 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  70. 48 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  71. 49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  72. 50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  73. 51 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  74. 52 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  75. 53 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  76. 54 Dissolution of the Bus Company.
  77. 55 Reduction of assets of National Loans Fund.
  78. 56 Interpretation of Part III.
  79. 57 Areas, Authorities and Executives.
  80. 58 Local government reorganisation: transport functions.
  81. 59 Transfer of bus undertakings of Executives to companies owned by Authorities.
  82. 60 Exclusion of public sector co-operation requirements and bus operating powers.
  83. 61 Division of undertakings of companies formed under section 59.
  84. 62 Protection of employee benefits on transfer and division of bus undertakings.
  85. 63 Functions of local councils with respect to passenger transport in areas other than integrated transport areas and passenger transport areas.
  86. 64 Consultation and publicity with respect to policies as to services.
  87. 65 Co-operation between certain councils and London Regional Transport.
  88. 66 Exclusion of powers of certain councils to run bus undertakings.
  89. 67 Formation of companies to run council bus undertakings.
  90. 68 Schemes for transfer of individual council bus undertakings to companies formed under section 67.
  91. 69 Orders for transfer of joint undertakings to companies formed under section 67.
  92. 70 Supplementary provisions with respect to orders under section 69.
  93. 71 Exemption for councils running small bus undertakings.
  94. 72 The public transport companies and their controlling authorities.
  95. 73 Control over constitution and activities of public transport companies.
  96. 74 Disabilities of directors of public transport companies.
  97. 75 Powers of investment and disposal in relation to public transport companies.
  98. 76 Audit of accounts of public transport companies.
  99. 77 Local authority financial controls in Scotland.
  100. 78 Provision of services for public transport companies.
  101. 79 Financial backing for establishment and operations of public transport companies.
  102. 80 Duty of Integrated Transport Authority or Passenger Transport Authority not to inhibit competition.
  103. 81 Provision, maintenance and operation of bus stations.
  104. 82 Bus stations: restrictions on discriminatory practices, etc.
  105. 83 Provisions supplementary to sections 81 and 82.
  106. 84 Compensation for loss of employment, etc.
  107. 85 Incorporation of Passenger Transport Executives in Authorities for their area.
  108. 86 Amendments consequential on orders under section 85.
  109. 87 Interpretation of Part IV.
  110. 88 Expenditure on public passenger transport services.
  111. 89 Obligation to invite tenders for subsidised services.
  112. 90 Provisions supplementary to section 89.
  113. 91 Exceptions from section 89.
  114. 92 General provisions with respect to the exercise of service subsidy functions.
  115. 93 Travel concession schemes.
  116. 94 Administration of schemes: reimbursement, etc.
  117. 95 Publicity requirements for schemes and reimbursement arrangements.
  118. 96 Right of eligible service operators to participate in travel concession schemes.
  119. 97 Compulsory participation in travel concession schemes.
  120. 98 Further provisions with respect to participation notices.
  121. 99 Release from compulsory participation.
  122. 100 Provisions Supplementary to sections 96 to 99
  123. 101 Enforcement of participation in travel concession schemes.
  124. 102 Application of Passenger Transport Executive’s financial plan to expenditure on travel concessions under schemes.
  125. 103 Subsidies for travel concessions.
  126. 104 Travel concessions on services provided by Passenger Transport Executives.
  127. 105 Travel concessions on services provided by local authorities.
  128. 106 Grants for transport facilities and services.
  129. 106A Grants for bus services.
  130. 107 Grants by London Regional Transport.
  131. 108 Grants for establishment, etc., of rural passenger services in Walesand Scotland.
  132. 109 Transitional rural bus grants.
  133. 110 Grants towards duty charged on bus fuel.
  134. 111 Unregistered and unreliable local services; reduction of fuel duty grant.
  135. 112 Interpretation of Part V.
  136. 112A Introductory
  137. 112B Duty to keep road passenger transport services and facilities under review
  138. 112C Duty to investigate road passenger transport services and facilities
  139. 112D Power to refer matters elsewhere instead of investigating
  140. 112E Investigations: power to obtain information
  141. 112F Investigations: protection of confidential information
  142. 112G Investigations: representations
  143. 112H Referrals following investigation
  144. 112I Referrals in cases where investigation identifies other failings
  145. 112J Traffic commissioner’s duty following referral
  146. 112K Investigation reports
  147. 112L Interpretation of Part 5A
  148. 113 Repeal of section 24(3) of the 1968 Act.
  149. 114 Monopoly references with respect to bus services.
  150. 115 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  151. 116 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  152. 117 Reconstitution of the Transport Tribunal.
  153. 118 Railways Board’s road passenger transport services.
  154. 119 Bus substitution services and bus service conditions.
  155. 120 Notice of withdrawal of bus substitution service.
  156. 121 Objections to withdrawal of bus substitution service.
  157. 122 Revocation or variation of bus service conditions.
  158. 123 Supplementary and consequential provisions.
  159. 124 Reimbursement of Board’s expenses in securing bus substitution services.
  160. 125 The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee and Secretary of State’s Guidance.
  161. 125A The Public Transport Users' Committee for England
  162. 125B Functions of the Committee
  163. 125C Power to confer functions in relation to the Committee
  164. 126 Application of sections 52 and 56 of the 1981 Act.
  165. 127 Offences and legal proceedings.
  166. 128 Further supplementary provisions.
  167. 129 Transfer schemes.
  168. 130 Corporation tax and capital gains tax.
  169. 131 Stamp duty.
  170. 132 Operation of vehicles, etc., by partnerships.
  171. 133 Functions of Passenger Transport Authorities and Executives Authorities and Executives: supplementary.
  172. 134 Regulations, rules and orders.
  173. 135 Procedure for making regulations, rules and orders.
  174. 136 Directions.
  175. 137 General interpretation.
  176. 138 Expenses and receipts.
  177. 139 Transitional provisions, savings, amendments, repeals and revocation.
  178. 140 Short title, commencement and extent.
  179. SCHEDULE 1 Amendments Consequential on the Abolition of Road Service Licensing
  180. SCHEDULE 2 Amendments Consequential on Section 3
  181. SCHEDULE Substituted for Schedule 2 to the 1981 Act
  182. SCHEDULE 3 Amendments Consequential on Section 57
  183. SCHEDULE 4 Constitution, Powers and Proceedings of the Transport Tribunal
  184. SCHEDULE 5 The Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee
  185. SCHEDULE 6 Transitional Provisions and Savings
  186. SCHEDULE 7 Minor and Consequential Amendments
  187. SCHEDULE 8 Repeals

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187 provisions

Title and introductory text

Transport Act 1985 1985 c. 67 An Act to amend the law relating to road passenger transport; to make provision for the transfer of the operations of the National Bus Company to the private sector; to provide for the reorganisation of passenger transport in the public sector; to provide for local and central government financial support for certain passenger transport services and travel concessions; to make further provision with respect to the powers of London Regional Transport; to make new provision with respect to the constitution, powers and proceedings of the Transport Tribunal; to make provision with respect to grants payable under section 92 of the Finance Act 1965; to establish a Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee; and for connected purposes. [30th October 1985] Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

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1 Abolition of road service licensing.

(1) The provisions of Part III of the 1981 Act (road service licences) shall cease to have effect. (2) Those provisions are replaced— (a) in relation to London local services, by Part II of this Act; and (b) in relation to other local services, by sections 6 to 9 of this Act. (3) Schedule 1 to this Act shall have effect for the purpose of making amendments in other enactments consequential on this section.

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2 Local services.

(1) In this Act “local service” means a service, using one or more public service vehicles, for the carriage of passengers by road at separate fares other than one— (a) which is excluded by subsection (4) below; or (b) in relation to which (except in an emergency) one or both of the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) below are met with respect to every passenger using the service. (2) The conditions are that— (a) the place where he is set down is fifteen miles or more, measured in a straight line, from the place where he was taken up; (b) some point on the route between those places is fifteen miles or more, measured in a straight line, from either of those places. (3) Where a service consists of one or more parts with respect to which one or both of the conditions are met, and one or more parts with respect to which neither of them is met, each of those parts shall be treated as a separate service for the purposes of subsection (1) above. (4) A service shall not be regarded for the purposes of this Act as a local service if— (a) the conditions set out in Part III of Schedule 1 to the 1981 Act (trips organised privately by persons acting independently of vehicle operators, etc.) are met in respect of each journey made by the vehicles used in providing the service; or (b) every vehicle used in providing the service is so used under a permit granted under section 19 of this Act. (5) Subsections (5)(b), (c) and (6) of section 1 of the 1981 Act (meaning of “fares”) shall apply for the purposes of this section.

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3 Traffic commissioners.

(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) For sections 4 and 5 of the 1981 Act (traffic commissioners) there shall be substituted the following sections— Traffic commissioners. 4 (1) There shall be a commissioner for each traffic area constituted for the purposes of this Act. (2) The commissioner for each traffic area shall be appointed by the Secretary of State and shall be known as the traffic commissioner for the area. (3) The traffic commissioner for a traffic area shall be responsible for issuing licences under this Act and shall have such other functions as are given to him by, or in pursuance of, this Act or any other enactment. (4) Any person appointed to be the traffic commissioner for a traffic area shall— (a) act under the general directions of the Secretary of State; and (b) vacate his office on attaining the age of sixty-five, or on such later date before he attains the age of sixty-six as the Secretary of State may at any time direct, but otherwise hold office during Her Majesty’s pleasure. (5) Where the Secretary of State proposes to appoint a person to be the traffic commissioner for a traffic area he shall, before making the appointment, require that person to declare if he has any, and if so what, financial interest in any transport undertaking which carries passengers or goods by road within Great Britain. (6) Schedule 2 to this Act shall have effect with respect to traffic commissioners. Publication of information by traffic commissioners. 5 (1) Every traffic commissioner shall publish, in such form and at such times as may be prescribed, such information with respect to the exercise, or proposed exercise, of any of his functions under this Act or the Transport Act 1985 as may be prescribed. (2) Where the traffic commissioner for a traffic area publishes information under this section he shall— (a) send a copy of the publication— (i) to every chief officer of police, Passenger Transport Executive and local authority whose area falls partly or wholly within that traffic area; and (ii) where that traffic area falls wholly or partly within London, to London Regional Transport; and (b) make a copy of it available (by post if required and on payment of such fee as may be prescribed) to anyone who asks for one. (3) In this section “local authority” means— (a) in England and Wales, the council of any non-metropolitan county, any district or London borough or the Common Council of the City of London; and (b) in Scotland, any regional or islands council. (3) For Schedule 2 to the 1981 Act (traffic commissioners) there shall be substituted the Schedule set out in Part I of Schedule 2 to this Act. (4) For subsection (1) of section 59 of the 1968 Act (licensing authority for Part V of that Act) there shall be substituted— (1) The traffic commissioner for any traffic area constituted for the purposes of the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 shall exercise the functions conferred on him by this Part of this Act and is in this Part of this Act referred to as “the licensing authority.” (5) Part II of Schedule 2 to this Act shall have effect for the purpose of making further consequential amendments in other enactments.

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4 Inquiries held by traffic commissioners.

For section 54 of the 1981 Act (procedure of traffic commissioners) there shall be substituted the following section— Inquiries held by traffic commissioners. 54 (1) A traffic commissioner may, at such places as appear to him to be convenient, hold such inquiries as he thinks fit in connection with the exercise of his functions. (2) Where, as respects the proposed exercise of his powers on any occasion, a traffic commissioner receives a request for an inquiry from two or more persons he may hold a single inquiry in response to those requests. (3) Subject to any provision made by regulations, any inquiry held under this section shall be public. (4) Where a traffic commissioner proposes to hold an inquiry for the purpose of considering any application or proposal, he shall publish notice of the inquiry in the prescribed manner. (5) Where a traffic commissioner holds an inquiry he may, in such circumstances as may be prescribed and subject to any provision made under subsection (6) below, make such order as he thinks fit as to the payment, by such party to the inquiry as he thinks fit, of costs incurred by him or by the Secretary of State in connection with the holding of the inquiry. (6) Regulations may make provision, in relation to orders under subsection (5) above, as to— (a) the method of calculating the amount of any costs incurred as mentioned in that subsection; and (b) the maximum amount which may be ordered to be paid under such an order. (7) Any amount so ordered to be paid by any person may be recoverable from him— (a) in England and Wales, as a debt due to the Crown; or (b) in Scotland, by the Secretary of State. (8) Information with respect to any particular trade or business which is given at any such inquiry while admission to the inquiry is restricted in accordance with regulations shall not be disclosed, so long as that trade or business continues to be carried on, except— (a) with the consent of the person for the time being carrying it on; (b) for the purpose of the discharge by any person of his functions under any enactment mentioned in subsection (9) below; or (c) with a view to the institution of, or otherwise for the purposes of, any legal proceedings pursuant to or arising out of any such enactment (including proceedings before the Transport Tribunal); and any person who discloses any information in contravention of this subsection shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale. (9) The enactments referred to in subsection (8)(b) and (c) above are— (a) sections 12 to 21 of this Act; and (b) sections 24 to 28 of the Transport Act 1985. (10) The Secretary of State may by order made by statutory instrument amend subsection (9) above by adding a reference to an enactment or by removing any such reference; and any statutory instrument made in exercise of the power conferred by this subsection shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

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5 Assistance for traffic commissioners in considering financial questions.

After section 17 of the 1981 Act, there shall be inserted the following section— Assessors to assist traffic commissioners. 17A (1) In considering any financial question which appears to him to arise in relation to the exercise of his functions under section 14, 16 or 17 of this Act, a traffic commissioner may be assisted by an assessor drawn from a panel of persons appointed by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this section. (2) A traffic commissioner shall pay to any such assessor, in respect of his services, such remuneration as may be determined by the Secretary of State with the consent of the Treasury.

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6 Registration of local services.

(1) In this section “service” means a local service which is neither a London local service nor a service which falls within subsection (1A) or (1D) below nor a service provided under an agreement entered into, where a railway service has been temporarily interrupted, with the Secretary of State, the Scottish Ministers or the National Assembly for Wales under section 40 of the Railways Act 2005 (substitution services provided for interrupted or discontinued railway services). (1A) A service falls within this subsection if conditions A and B are satisfied in relation to it. (1B) Condition A is satisfied if the service is provided in pursuance of— (a) the obligation placed on a local authority by section 508B(1), section 508F(1), ... or section 509AA(7)(b) or (9)(a) of the Education Act 1996 (provision of transport etc); (b) the exercise of the power of a local authority under section 508C(1) of that Act; ... (c) arrangements made by a local authority in pursuance of a scheme made by them under Schedule 35C to that Act (school travel schemes). (d) the obligation placed on a local authority by sections 3 or 4 of the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008; or (e) the exercise of the power of a local authority under section 6 of that Measure. (1C) Condition B is satisfied if the service is for the carriage of any of the following persons (and no other)— (a) a person receiving education or training at premises to or from which transport is provided in pursuance of the obligation, the exercise of the power or the arrangements, as the case may be, mentioned in paragraph (a), (b) , (c), (d) or (e) of subsection (1B); (b) a person supervising or escorting any such person while he is using such transport; (c) a person involved with the provision of education or training at any such premises. (1D) A service falls within this subsection if— (a) it has one or more stopping places in England, and (b) it is provided under an agreement entered into, where a railway service has been temporarily interrupted, with the person who usually provides the railway service. (1E) Where a service is provided both inside and outside England, any part of the service which is provided outside England is to be treated as a separate service for the purposes of subsection (1D) if there is any stopping place for that part of the service outside England. (2) Subject to regulations under this section, no service shall be provided in any traffic area in which there is a stopping place for the service unless— (a) the prescribed particulars of the service have been registered with a traffic commissioner by the operator of the service; (b) the period of notice in relation to the registration has expired; and (c) the service is operated in accordance with the registered particulars. (2A) Where— (a) any registration restrictions imposed under section 113D(1) or 114(3A) of the Transport Act 2000 (advanced quality partnership schemes and quality partnership schemes) are in force, and (b) an application for registration is made in respect of a service in relation to which those restrictions have effect, section 6A of this Act has effect in relation to the application. (2B) Where— (a) a quality contracts scheme under section 124 of the Transport Act 2000 is in force in relation to an area in Wales, (b) an operator proposes to provide a local service which is to have one or more stopping places within the area to which the scheme relates, (c) the proposed service is not excluded from the scheme by virtue of section 127(4) of the Transport Act 2000, and (d) the operator does not propose to provide the service under a quality contract by virtue of the scheme, section 6B of this Act has effect with respect to registration of that service. (2C) Where— (a) a requirement imposed under section 138A(5)(b) of the Transport Act 2000 (requirements specified in an enhanced partnership scheme) has effect, and (b) an application to register a service, or to vary the registration of a service, is made in respect of a service to which that requirement would apply if the application were granted, section 6D has effect with respect to the application. (2D) Where— (a) an enhanced partnership scheme under section 138A of the Transport Act 2000 is in operation, (b) a service is registered, or a registration of a service is varied, under this section, and (c) a requirement imposed under section 138A(5)(b) of the Transport Act 2000 applies to the service or the service as varied, the requirement is to be recorded with the particulars of the service required to be registered under this section. (3) In subsection (2) above “the period of notice”, in relation to any registration, means, subject to regulations under this section— (a) the period prescribed for the purposes of this subsection; or (b) if longer, the period beginning with the registration and ending with the date given to the traffic commissioner by the operator as the date on which the service will begin. (4) An application for registration shall only be accepted from a person who either holds an unconditional PSV operator’s licence or a permit under section 22 of this Act or is using, or proposing to use, a school bus belonging to that person for farepaying passengers in accordance with section 46(1) of the 1981 Act. (5) In subsection (4) above “unconditional”, in relation to a PSV operator’s licence, means a licence which does not have attached to it a condition imposed under section 26(1) of this Act prohibiting, or having the effect of prohibiting, the operator from using vehicles under the licence to provide the service to which the application in question relates. (6) In this Act any reference to a service registered under this section is a reference to a service in respect of which the prescribed particulars are registered under this section. (7) Any registration may be varied or cancelled on an application made by the operator of the service to which it relates. (7A) Where— (a) a quality contracts scheme under section 124 of the Transport Act 2000 is in force in relation to an area in Wales, (b) the operator of a local service registered under this section proposes to vary the registration, (c) the service, as proposed to be varied, is to have one or more stopping places within the area to which the scheme relates, (d) the service, as proposed to be varied, is not excluded from the scheme by virtue of section 127(4) of the Transport Act 2000, and (e) the operator does not propose to provide the service, as proposed to be varied, under a quality contract by virtue of the scheme, section 6B of this Act has effect with respect to the variation of the registration. (7B) Where an enhanced partnership scheme under section 138A of the Transport Act 2000 is in operation, the registration of a service may also be cancelled under section 6E. (8) Subject to regulations under this section and, in the case of variation, to section 6B of this Act, the variation or cancellation of a registration shall become effective— (a) on the expiry of the period beginning with the date on which a traffic commissioner accepts the application and ending with the date determined in accordance with regulations under this section; or (b) if later, on the day given to a traffic commissioner by the operator as the effective date for the variation or (as the case may be) cancellation. (9) Regulations may be made for the purpose of carrying this section into effect and any such regulations may, in particular, make provision— (a) for permitting the variation of a registered service, in such circumstances as may be prescribed, without variation of the registration; (b) for excluding or modifying the application of subsection (3) or (8) above in such cases or classes of case as may be prescribed; (c) that in such cases or classes of case as may be prescribed— (i) subsection (2) above shall have effect as if for the reference in paragraph (b) to the period of notice there were substituted a reference to such period as a traffic commissioner may determine; (ii) subsection (8) above shall have effect as if for the reference in paragraph (a) to the date on which the period mentioned in that paragraph is to expire there were substituted a reference to such date as a traffic commissioner may determine; (d) as to the procedure for applying for registration or for the variation or cancellation of a registration; (e) for an application for registration or for the variation or cancellation of a registration not to be accepted by a traffic commissioner unless the applicant gives to a traffic commissioner such information as a traffic commissioner may reasonably require in connection with the application (or, if the applicant is subject to requirements imposed by regulations made by virtue of section 141A(1)(a) of the Transport Act 2000, complies with those requirements); (f) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (g) as to the documents (if any) to be issued by a traffic commissioner with respect to registrations; (h) as to the cancellation of registrations relating to discontinued services; (ha) as to the variation or cancellation of the record of a requirement imposed under section 138A(5)(b) of the Transport Act 2000; (i) for enabling a traffic commissioner to require the operator of a registered service, in such circumstances as may be prescribed, to keep records of such matters relating to the operation of the service, in such manner, as may be prescribed; (j) for requiring the operator of a registered service who is required to keep records by regulations made by virtue of paragraph (i) above to make those records available to a traffic commissioner; (k) for requiring the operator or prospective operator of a registered service to give, to such persons and at such times as may be prescribed, such information as may be prescribed with respect to the service, or proposed service, or any proposal to vary or cancel the registration of the service; (ka) for imposing restrictions on the use that may be made of records made available as mentioned in paragraph (j) above or information given as mentioned in paragraph (k) above; (l) for excluding from the application of this section services which are— (i) excursions or tours; or (ii) excursions or tours falling within a prescribed class. (10) Regulations made by virtue of paragraph (ka) of subsection (9) above— (a) may create one or more criminal offences relating to the use of records or information in breach of the restrictions imposed by those regulations, but (b) may not provide, in respect of any such offence, for a penalty greater than a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale. (11) The power to make regulations under subsections (2), (3) and (9), so far as exercisable in relation to Wales, is exercisable by the Welsh Ministers (and not by the Secretary of State).

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6ZA Provision of service information when varying or cancelling registration

(1) This section applies where an operator of a local service registered under section 6 notifies an affected authority in accordance with regulations under that section that the operator proposes to make an application to vary or cancel the registration. (2) The affected authority may, within such period as may be prescribed, require the operator to provide them with such information relating to the local service as may be prescribed. (3) The information that may be prescribed is information relating to— (a) the number of passengers using the service, the journeys made by those passengers and the fares paid by them, and (b) the revenue obtained by operating the service. (4) A requirement for information under subsection (2) may be made only— (a) for the purposes of the affected authority exercising their functions under section 9A of the Transport Act 1968 or, as the case may be, section 63 of this Act, and (b) in respect of— (i) the period of 12 months ending on the day on which the requirement is made, or (ii) where the service has not operated for the whole of the period of 12 months preceding the day on which the requirement is made, the period of operation up to the day on which the requirement is made. (5) An operator who is subject to a requirement under this section— (a) must provide any information required under subsection (2) within such period as may be prescribed, (b) may, at the same time, provide evidence that the disclosure of some or all of the information it has provided is likely to damage its commercial interests and request that the information in question is not disclosed under section 6ZB(3). (6) For the purposes of this section and sections 6ZB and 6ZC, “affected authority”, in relation to a local service registered under section 6, means a council or a Transport Partnership created by order under section 1 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 which— (a) have functions under section 9A of the Transport Act 1968 or section 63 of this Act, and (b) have within their area or, as the case may be, region a stopping place which would be affected by the variation or cancellation of the registration of the service by an operator.

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6ZB Provision of service information: extent of permissible disclosure

(1) An affected authority may disclose information received from an operator under section 6ZA only in accordance with this section. (2) An affected authority may disclose information of the type described in section 6ZA(3)(a)— (a) to an economic operator in connection with an invitation to submit a tender to provide a supported service to replace or supplement the service being varied or cancelled, (b) to another affected authority, (c) to such other persons as may be prescribed. (3) An affected authority may disclose information of the type described in section 6ZA(3)(b)— (a) to an economic operator in connection with an invitation to submit a tender to provide a supported service to replace or supplement the service being varied or cancelled, (b) to another affected authority. (4) Information disclosed under subsection (3)(a) of this section— (a) must be aggregated into an annual figure, (b) must not be disclosed in circumstances where the affected authority have decided to assume the revenue-related risk for the supported service by keeping the revenue obtained by operating the service. (5) An affected authority which receive information under subsection (2)(b) or (3)(b) must not disclose that information to any other person. (6) Where an operator has provided evidence and made a request under section 6ZA(5)(b), the affected authority must— (a) decide whether, on the basis of the evidence submitted, they are satisfied that the disclosure of some or all of the information is likely to cause damage to the commercial interests of the operator, and (b) notify the operator of their decision. (7) The affected authority must not disclose any information which is the subject of a request under section 6ZA(5)(b)— (a) until they have complied with their duties under subsection (6), and (b) where they decide that they are satisfied that disclosure of the information is likely to cause damage to the commercial interests of the operator. (8) An affected authority who, without reasonable excuse, disclose information in contravention of this section commit an offence. (9) An affected authority who commit an offence under subsection (8) are liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale. (10) Where an offence under subsection (8) committed by an affected authority is proved to have been committed with the consent or connivance of, or to be attributable to the neglect on the part of, a person employed by the authority, the person as well as the authority is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. (11) In this section— “economic operator” means any person, public entity or group of persons or entities including any temporary association of undertakings that offers to provide local services on the market, “supported service” means a service which is subsidised under section 9A(4) of the Transport Act 1968 or, as the case may be, section 63(5) of this Act.

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6ZC Provision of service information: further provision and consultation

(1) Regulations under this section may make provision for the purposes of giving full effect to sections 6ZA and 6ZB, including, without limit to that generality, provision— (a) for excluding or modifying the application of section 6ZA in such circumstances as may be specified in the regulations, (b) about the procedures to be followed by affected authorities and operators, including the manner in which authorities are to require information to be provided, (c) requiring operators to keep records of such information as may be specified in the regulations, (d) substituting a different period (or periods) for the period for the time being specified in section 6ZA(4)(b), (e) about the form and (subject to section 6ZA(3)) content of the information that operators may be required to provide. (2) Before making regulations under section 6ZA(2) or (5), 6ZB(2) or this section, the Scottish Ministers must consult— (a) such persons as appear to them to be representative of operators and users of local services, (b) each council and Transport Partnership created by order under section 1 of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2005 which have functions under section 9A of the Transport Act 1968 or section 63 of this Act, and (c) such other persons as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate.

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6A Applications for registration etc where restrictions are in force

(1) This section applies in any case where— (a) any registration restrictions imposed under section 113D(1) or 114(3A) of the Transport Act 2000 are in force in the case of an advanced quality partnership scheme or a quality partnership scheme (“the scheme”); (b) an application for registration, or for variation or cancellation of registration, is made under section 6 of this Act ... in respect of a local service in relation to which those restrictions have effect; and (c) the application is one which would fall to be accepted by a traffic commissioner, apart from this section. (2) In any such case the traffic commissioner, before deciding whether or not to accept the application, must give to— (a) each relevant authority, and (b) each relevant operator, a notice complying with subsection (3) below. (3) The notice must— (a) identify the application and state that it has been made; (b) provide prescribed particulars of the application; (c) inform the persons to whom it is required to be sent of the right of each of them to make relevant representations to the traffic commissioner about the application. (4) If no relevant representations are made, the application is to be accepted. (5) If any relevant representations are made by a relevant authority or a relevant operator, the traffic commissioner must decide whether the effect of accepting the application would be detrimental to the provision of local services under the scheme. (6) The traffic commissioner may decide that question only after— (a) considering those representations; (b) taking account of any other relevant applications and any relevant representations made in relation to those applications; (c) holding such inquiries under section 54 of the 1981 Act as the traffic commissioner may think fit; and (d) applying the registration criteria. (7) If the traffic commissioner decides that the effect of accepting the application would not be detrimental to the provision of such services, the application is to be accepted. (8) If subsection (7) above does not apply, the traffic commissioner may do any one or more of the following— (a) refuse to accept the application; (b) require the applicant to amend the application in such respects as the traffic commissioner may require before submitting it again; (c) if the applicant has not given a written undertaking under section 113J(4) or (5) or 118(4) of the Transport Act 2000 in relation to the scheme, require the applicant to give such an undertaking before the application may be accepted. (9) An appeal against any decision of a traffic commissioner under this section may be made to the Upper Tribunal by any of the following persons— (a) the person who made the application; (b) any relevant authority that made relevant representations against the application; (c) any relevant operator who made relevant representations against the application. ... (10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (11) Regulations may be made for the purposes of carrying this section into effect; and the provision that may be made by any such regulations includes provision— (a) as to the procedure for giving notice under subsection (2) above; (b) prescribing the particulars of the application that are to be provided in such a notice; (c) as to the procedure for making relevant representations; (d) as to the procedure to be followed in determining the application. (12) In this section— “advanced quality partnership scheme” means a scheme under section 113C of the Transport Act 2000; “quality partnership scheme” means a scheme under section 114 of the Transport Act 2000; “registration criteria”— in relation to an advanced quality partnership scheme, means the criteria specified in the scheme by virtue of section 113D(3) of the Transport Act 2000; in relation to a quality partnership scheme, means the criteria specified in the scheme by virtue of section 114(3C) of the Transport Act 2000; “relevant application” means any application under section 6 of this Act— which is made in respect of a local service in relation to which the registration restrictions have effect, and which (whenever made) is awaiting the decision of a traffic commissioner; “relevant authority” means the authority, or any of the authorities, that made the scheme; “relevant operator” means— any operator of local services who has given an undertaking under section 113J(4) or (5) or 118(4) of the Transport Act 2000 in respect of the scheme; any other operator of local services which might be affected if the application were to be accepted; “relevant representations” means representations that the effect of accepting the application would be detrimental to the provision of services under the scheme, having regard to the registration criteria. “the traffic commissioner” means the traffic commissioner dealing with the application mentioned in subsection (1). (13) The power to make regulations under subsection (11), so far as exercisable in relation to Wales, is exercisable by the Welsh Ministers (and not by the Secretary of State).

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6B Applications for registration where quality contracts scheme in force

(1) This section applies— (a) by virtue of subsection (2B) of section 6 of this Act (“Case 1”), in relation to registration of the proposed local service mentioned in that subsection; (b) by virtue of subsection (7A) of that section (“Case 2”), in relation to the proposed variation of the registration mentioned in that subsection. (2) Where this section applies, the operator may apply to a traffic commissioner— (a) in Case 1, for registration of the proposed service under section 6 of this Act, or (b) in Case 2, for variation of the registration under that section, notwithstanding anything in section 129(1)(a) of the Transport Act 2000 (sections 6 to 9 of this Act not to apply). (3) The traffic commissioner must not accept the application except in accordance with subsections (4) to (6) below. (4) On receipt of the application, the traffic commissioner must consult the authority or authorities who made the quality contracts scheme. (5) If, within the prescribed time, the traffic commissioner receives from the authority or authorities a clearance certificate in respect of the application, the traffic commissioner must— (a) in Case 1, register the service under section 6 of this Act, or (b) in Case 2, vary the registration under that section. (6) If the traffic commissioner does not receive such a certificate within that time, the application must be rejected. (7) In relation to Case 2, regulations may prescribe cases in which subsections (3) to (6) above do not apply. (8) In this section— “clearance certificate” means a certificate that the provision— in Case 1, of the proposed local service, or in Case 2, of the local service as proposed to be varied, will not have an adverse effect on local services provided under quality contracts in the area to which the quality contracts scheme relates; “prescribed” means prescribed in regulations; “the relevant authority or authorities” means the authority or authorities— who last continued the quality contracts scheme in force under section 131A of the Transport Act 2000, or if the scheme has not been so continued, who made it. “the traffic commissioner” means the traffic commissioner dealing with the application. (9) The power to make regulations under subsections (5) and (7), so far as exercisable in relation to Wales, is exercisable by the Welsh Ministers (and not by the Secretary of State).

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6C Variation or cancellation of registration: service information

(1) Regulations may require the operator of a local service registered under section 6 to provide prescribed information to any local transport authority in England in whose area the service has a stopping place if— (a) the operator— (i) has made an application under section 6 to vary or cancel the registration of the service, or (ii) has notified the local transport authority in accordance with regulations under that section that it proposes to make such an application, and (b) the authority requests the operator to provide the information. (2) The information that may be prescribed is information relating to— (a) the number of passengers using the service, the journeys made by those passengers and the fares paid by them, and (b) the revenue obtained by operating the service. (3) Regulations under this section may, in particular— (a) make provision about the periods of time in respect of which information may be required, (b) make provision about the time when, and the manner and form in which, information is to be provided, (c) provide for a traffic commissioner or a body carrying out a traffic commissioner's functions in accordance with section 6G not to accept an application to vary or cancel the service if the operator has failed to comply with the regulations, (d) make provision about the use and disclosure of information provided under the regulations (including provision about its further disclosure), (e) make provision as to cases in which section 67 of the 1981 Act does not apply in relation to contraventions of, or failures to comply with, the regulations, (f) make provision subject to conditions, and (g) make supplementary, incidental, consequential or transitional provision. (4) In this section “local transport authority” has the meaning given in section 108(4) of the Transport Act 2000.

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6D Applications for registration where an enhanced partnership scheme is in operation

(1) This section applies in any case where— (a) an enhanced partnership scheme under section 138A of the Transport Act 2000 is in operation; (b) a requirement imposed under section 138A(5)(b) of the Transport Act 2000 has effect; (c) an application for registration, or for variation of registration, is made under section 6 of this Act in respect of a local service to which that requirement would apply if the application were granted; and (d) the application is one which would fall to be accepted, apart from this section. (2) A traffic commissioner must refuse the application if— (a) the requirement is an operation requirement, and (b) the traffic commissioner considers that the person who would be the operator of— (i) the service proposed to be provided, or, (ii) the service as proposed to be varied, is unlikely to be able to comply with that requirement as regards that service. (3) If, where the requirement is a route requirement, the registration, or variation of registration, of the service under section 6 is prevented by regulations under section 6E(6), a traffic commissioner must refuse the application. (4) In this section— “operation requirement” means a requirement imposed under section 138A(5)(b) of the Transport Act 2000, other than a route requirement; “route requirement” means a requirement imposed under section 138A(5)(b) of the Transport Act 2000 that falls within section 138C(1) of that Act.

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6E Cancellation and control of registration where enhanced partnership scheme is in operation

(1) This section applies in a case where— (a) an enhanced partnership scheme under section 138A of the Transport Act 2000 is in operation, and (b) one or more requirements imposed under section 138A(5)(b) of the Transport Act 2000 by the scheme have effect. (2) If a traffic commissioner considers that— (a) an operation requirement imposed by the scheme applies to a service registered under section 6, and (b) the service is not being provided in accordance with that requirement, the traffic commissioner may cancel the registration of that service. (3) If a traffic commissioner considers that— (a) a route requirement imposed by the scheme applies to a service registered under section 6, and (b) that service cannot be provided in accordance with that requirement, the traffic commissioner must cancel the registration of that service. (4) If a traffic commissioner considers that— (a) a route requirement imposed by the scheme applies to two or more services registered under section 6, and (b) those services cannot all be provided in accordance with that requirement, the traffic commissioner must cancel the registration of those services. (5) Subject to regulations under this section, a cancellation of the registration of a service under subsection (2), (3) or (4) becomes effective on the expiry of the period beginning with the date on which a traffic commissioner gives notice to the operator of the service of the cancellation of the registration and ending with the date determined in accordance with regulations under this section. (6) Regulations under this section may make provision controlling the registration, or the variation of registration, under section 6 of local services which would, or would as varied, be subject to a route requirement by reference to which a registration or registrations was or were cancelled under subsection (3) or (4). (7) Regulations under subsection (6) may, in particular— (a) provide for the determination of the services that may be registered and the persons who may register such services; (b) provide for those matters to be determined by the local transport authority or authorities operating the enhanced partnership scheme; (c) provide for the authority or authorities to award contracts authorising persons to provide local services or local services of particular descriptions; (d) provide for services not to be registered under section 6, and for variations of registration under section 6 not to be made, in prescribed cases; (e) make provision as to the period during which the registration, or variation of registration, of local services under section 6 is subject to provision under subsection (6). (8) Regulations may be made for the purpose of carrying this section into effect and any such regulations may, in particular— (a) make provision as to the procedure for cancellation under this section, including provision for giving notice of an intention to cancel unless an operator of a local service satisfies prescribed conditions; (b) make provision for cancellation under subsection (3) or (4) to be revoked if prescribed conditions are satisfied, including conditions relating to the variation or cancellation under section 6 of the registration of one or more of the services affected; (c) make provision for the time at which cancellation under subsection (3) or (4) becomes effective to be postponed in prescribed circumstances. (9) In this section— “local transport authority” has the meaning given in section 108(4) of the Transport Act 2000; “operation requirement” and “route requirement” have the same meaning as in section 6D.

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6F Enhanced partnership schemes: appeals

(1) A person may appeal to the Upper Tribunal against— (a) a decision to record a requirement under section 6(2D) (recording of requirements specified in an enhanced partnership scheme) in relation to a service provided by the person, (b) a refusal under section 6D(2) or (3) of an application made by the person, or (c) a cancellation under section 6E of the registration of a service provided by the person. (2) But if the decision, refusal or cancellation was made by a local transport authority by virtue of section 6G— (a) the appeal as regards that matter is to be made to a traffic commissioner, and (b) the local transport authority or authorities operating the relevant enhanced partnership scheme under section 138A of the Transport Act 2000 is or are to be parties to the proceedings. (3) On an appeal under subsection (2), a traffic commissioner may— (a) uphold the decision, (b) quash the decision, or (c) substitute a decision for the decision made. (4) Regulations may make provision— (a) as to the time within which, and the manner in which, appeals under subsection (2) may be made, and (b) as to the procedure to be followed in connection with such appeals. (5) A decision of a traffic commissioner on an appeal under subsection (2) may be appealed to the Upper Tribunal by— (a) the person who appealed under subsection (2), or (b) the local transport authority or authorities operating the relevant enhanced partnership scheme. (6) A local transport authority or authorities operating an enhanced partnership scheme under section 138A of the Transport Act 2000 may appeal to the Upper Tribunal against— (a) a decision of a traffic commissioner to register a service that has a stopping place in the area to which the scheme relates, or (b) a decision of a traffic commissioner not to record a requirement under section 6(2D) in relation to such a service. (7) For the purposes of section 13(2) of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (appeals to Court of Appeal etc against decisions of the Upper Tribunal) the following persons are to be treated as parties to a case— (a) the person whose service is in question; (b) the local transport authority or authorities operating the relevant enhanced partnership scheme; and (c) a traffic commissioner. (8) In this section “local transport authority” has the meaning given in section 108(4) of the Transport Act 2000.

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6G Traffic commissioner functions where an enhanced partnership scheme in operation

(1) This section applies where notice of— (a) the making of an enhanced partnership scheme under section 138A of the Transport Act 2000, or (b) the varying of an enhanced partnership scheme, is given to a traffic commissioner under section 138G(5) or 138M(6) of the Transport Act 2000 by a local transport authority or authorities. (2) The authority or authorities must also notify the traffic commissioner— (a) whether or not the scheme, or the scheme as varied, specifies a route requirement, and (b) in relation to each route requirement specified, whether or not it relates to— (i) a particular service that only has stopping places in the area to which the scheme relates, (ii) particular services at least one of which is such a service, or (iii) a particular description of services which includes or is capable of including such a service. (3) In a case where the scheme, or the scheme as varied, relates to the whole or part of the combined area of two or more local transport authorities, the notification under subsection (2) must also state which of the authorities is the lead authority. (4) If the scheme, or the scheme as varied, specifies a route requirement that relates to a particular service that only has stopping places in the area to which the scheme relates, particular services at least one of which is such a service or a particular description of services which includes or is capable of including such a service— (a) a traffic commissioner must delegate the relevant registration functions as regards services that only have stopping places in that area to the authority or the lead authority (as the case may be), and (b) the authority or the lead authority (as the case may be) must carry them out. (5) A delegation under subsection (4) has effect— (a) when the scheme comes into operation, or (b) when the variation of the scheme takes effect (as the case may be). (6) If subsection (4) does not apply, the authority or the lead authority (as the case may be)— (a) may elect to carry out the relevant registration functions as regards services that only have stopping places in the area to which the scheme relates as from a particular time, and (b) if that election is made, must notify a traffic commissioner of that election and the time selected. (7) If notification is given under subsection (6), a traffic commissioner must delegate the relevant registration functions to— (a) the authority, or (b) the lead authority (as the case may be); and the authority or the lead authority (as the case may be) must carry them out. (8) A delegation under subsection (4) or (7) may come to end only when the scheme in question ceases to operate. (9) Regulations may be made for the purpose of carrying this section into effect. (10) In this section— “local transport authority” has the meaning given in section 108(4) of the Transport Act 2000; “the relevant registration functions”, in relation to an enhanced partnership scheme, means the functions of a traffic commissioner under sections 6, 6D and 6E of this Act so far as relating to— in the case of functions relating to the variation of registration, services that would be relevant services if varied as proposed, or in the case of any other function, relevant services; “relevant service”, in relation to an enhanced partnership scheme, means a local service that only has stopping places in the area to which the scheme relates; “route requirement” has the same meaning as in section 6D.

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6H Fees relating to relevant registration functions

(1) This section applies where the relevant registration functions of a traffic commissioner are carried out by a local transport authority in accordance with section 6G. (2) The local transport authority may charge fees under this section in respect of— (a) an application under section 6 of this Act for the registration of a relevant service, (b) an application under section 6 of this Act for the variation of the registration of a service that, as varied, would be or continue to be a relevant service, and (c) an application under section 6 of this Act for the cancellation of the registration of a relevant service. (3) The fees— (a) are to be determined by or in accordance with regulations, (b) are to be payable by such persons and at such times as the regulations may provide, and (c) are to be payable in one sum or in instalments, as provided by the regulations. (4) If a fee or instalment of a fee due under this section has not been paid, the local transport authority may decline to proceed with an application referred to in subsection (2) to which the fee or instalment relates until the fee or instalment is paid. (5) Amounts received in respect of fees charged under this section are not payable to the traffic commissioner (and accordingly may be retained by a local transport authority). (6) Where this section applies, fees may not be charged under section 52 of the 1981 Act (as applied by section 126 of this Act) in respect of an application referred to in subsection (2). (7) In this section— “local transport authority” has the meaning given in section 108(4) of the Transport Act 2000; “relevant service” has the same meaning as in section 6G; “the relevant registration functions” has the same meaning as in section 6G.

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6I Records of registration etc

(1) This section applies where the relevant registration functions of a traffic commissioner are carried out by a local transport authority in accordance with section 6G. (2) The local transport authority must keep a record of— (a) the local services that are registered and the registrations that are varied or cancelled by the authority under section 6; (b) the requirements imposed under section 138A(5)(b) of the Transport Act 2000 that are recorded by the authority as applying to services registered under section 6; (c) the local services that are cancelled by the authority under section 6E. (3) The authority must allow the record to be inspected at all reasonable times by members of the public. (4) The authority must supply to a traffic commissioner particulars of— (a) the local services that are registered and the registrations that are varied or cancelled by the authority under section 6; (b) the requirements imposed under section 138A(5)(b) of the Transport Act 2000 that are recorded by the authority as applying to services registered under section 6; (c) the local services that are cancelled by the authority under section 6E. (5) A record kept under this section is admissible in evidence of the matters required under this section to be entered in that record. (6) A copy of an entry made in such a record in pursuance of this section purporting to be— (a) signed on behalf of the authority by which the record is kept, and (b) certified as a true copy, is evidence of the matters stated in that entry without proof of the signature or authority of the person signing it. (7) Regulations may be made for the purpose of carrying this section into effect and any such regulations may, in particular, make provision— (a) as to the form of records under this section and the particulars they must contain; (b) as to the particulars to be supplied to a traffic commissioner under this section. (8) In this section— “local transport authority” has the meaning given in section 108(4) of the Transport Act 2000; “the relevant registration functions” has the same meaning as in section 6G.

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6J Contracting out of registration functions: fees

(1) Regulations may make provision about the charging of fees where an authorised person exercises a function of a traffic commissioner in relation to an application specified in subsection (2). (2) Those applications are— (a) an application under section 6 of this Act for the registration of a relevant service, (b) an application under section 6 of this Act for the variation of the registration of a service that, as varied, would be or continue to be a relevant service, and (c) an application under section 6 of this Act for the cancellation of the registration of a relevant service. (3) Regulations under this section may allow or require the authorised person to charge fees in respect of the application to which the function relates. (4) The regulations may— (a) specify the fees chargeable, or (b) make provision about the setting of fees by the authorised person, including provision about determining the amounts of such fees. (5) The regulations may include provision about— (a) who must pay the fees and at what times, and (b) whether the fees are payable in one sum or in instalments. (6) The regulations may provide that, if a fee or instalment of a fee due under the regulations has not been paid, the authorised person may decline to proceed with an application referred to in subsection (2) to which the fee or instalment relates until the fee or instalment is paid. (7) The regulations may make provision about how amounts received in respect of fees charged under the regulations are to be applied. (8) Provision made by virtue of subsection (7) may include— (a) provision for such amounts not to be payable to the traffic commissioner, and (b) provision that such amounts are to be paid, or not to be paid, into the Consolidated Fund. (9) The regulations may provide that fees are not to be charged under section 52 of the 1981 Act (as applied by section 126 of this Act) in respect of the applications referred to in subsection (2). (10) In this section— “authorised person”, in relation to a function of a traffic commissioner, means a person authorised to exercise that function by virtue of an authorisation given in accordance with an order under section 69 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994; “relevant service” means a service which has stopping places only in England; “service” has the meaning given in section 6(1).

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6K Application for registration where service standard has effect

(1) This section applies where— (a) a bus services improvement partnership scheme made under section 3B of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 is in operation, (b) a service standard imposed under section 3B(3)(b) of that Act has effect, (c) an application for registration, or for variation of registration, is made under section 6 of this Act in respect of a local service to which that service standard would apply if the application were granted, and (d) the application is one which would, but for this section, fall to be accepted. (2) A traffic commissioner must refuse the application if— (a) the service standard is an operational service standard, and (b) the traffic commissioner considers that the person who would be the operator of— (i) the service proposed to be provided, or (ii) the service as proposed to be varied, is unlikely to be able to comply with the service standard as regards that service. (3) In this section, “operational service standard” is to be construed in accordance with section 3C(1)(b) of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001.

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6L Cancellation of registration when operational service standards not met

(1) This section applies where— (a) a bus services improvement partnership scheme made under section 3B of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001 is in operation, and (b) one or more service standards imposed under section 3B(3)(b) of that Act have effect. (2) If a traffic commissioner considers that— (a) an operational service standard imposed by the scheme applies to a service registered under section 6, and (b) the service is not being provided in accordance with that service standard, the traffic commissioner may cancel the registration of that service. (3) In this section, “operational service standard” is to be construed in accordance with section 3C(1)(b) of the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001.

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6M Power to make regulations for appeals against service standards decisions

Regulations may make provision for or about appeals relating to any— (a) decision to record a service standard as a prescribed particular under section 6(2ZA), (b) refusal of an application by virtue of section 6K(2), (c) cancellation of the registration of a service by virtue of section 6L(2), (d) decision to register a service that has a stopping place in the area to which the scheme relates, or (e) decision not to record a service standard in relation to such a service under section 6(2ZA).

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6N Scrutiny of operation of bus services improvement partnership

(1) This section applies where— (a) a bus services improvement partnership scheme made under section 3B of the 2001 Act (“the scheme”) is in operation, and (b) it appears to a traffic commissioner that the local transport authority (or authorities) who made the scheme may not be complying with their obligations under it including, in particular, any duty arising under section 3F(2) or (3) of the 2001 Act. (2) The traffic commissioner may— (a) investigate the actions of the local transport authority (or authorities) in relation to their compliance with their obligations under the scheme, (b) require the authority (or authorities) to provide such information as the commissioner may specify for the purposes of the investigation. (3) A local transport authority may be required to provide the information before the end of such period as may be specified by the traffic commissioner when imposing the requirement. (4) Following an investigation under subsection (2), the traffic commissioner must prepare and publish a report— (a) setting out whether or not the commissioner is satisfied that the local transport authority (or authorities) are complying with their obligations under the scheme, and (b) if the commissioner is not satisfied that the authority (or authorities) are complying with their obligations, making such recommendations as the commissioner considers appropriate, including, in particular, recommendations that the authority (or authorities) take such remedial action as may be specified in the report. (5) Before publishing a report prepared under subsection (4), the commissioner must provide a copy of it to— (a) the local transport authority (or authorities) who made the scheme, and (b) each operator providing a local service with a stopping place in the area of the scheme. (6) Where, under section 3E of the 2001 Act, the Scottish Ministers acted jointly with a local transport authority (or authorities) to make the scheme, this section applies to the Scottish Ministers as it applies to the authority (or authorities). (7) In this section— “2001 Act” means the Transport (Scotland) Act 2001, “local transport authority” has the meaning given in section 82(1) of the 2001 Act.

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7 Application of traffic regulation conditions to local services subject to registration under section 6.

(1) If a traffic authority asks him a traffic commissioner to exercise his powers under this section in relation to a particular traffic problem which has arisen or which the authority reasonably foresees is likely to arise, the traffic commissioner for any traffic area he or any other traffic commissioner may determine conditions (“traffic regulation conditions”) which must be met in the provision of services in the area to which the conditions are expressed to apply. (2) In this section “service” means any local service to which section 6 of this Act applies. (3) The area to which traffic regulation conditions may be expressed to apply is any part of the traffic area of the traffic commissioner determining them a traffic area. (3A) Traffic regulation conditions may not be expressed to apply to an area to which an enhanced partnership scheme under section 138A of the Transport Act 2000 relates. (4) No traffic commissioner shall determine traffic regulation conditions unless he is satisfied, after considering the traffic in the area in question, that such conditions are required are, or are likely to be, required in order to— (a) prevent danger to road users; . . . (b) reduce severe traffic congestion ; or (c) reduce or limit noise or air pollution. (5) In considering what traffic regulation conditions to apply to a particular area a traffic commissioner shall have regard in particular to the interests of— (a) those who have registered under section 6 of this Act services which are or will be operated in the area; (b) those who are, or are likely to be, users of such services; and (c) persons who are elderly or disabled. (6) The purposes for which traffic regulation conditions may be determined are the regulation of— (a) the routes of services; (b) the stopping places for services; (c) when vehicles used in providing services may stop at such stopping places and for how long they may do so; and (d) such other matters as may be prescribed. (7) Subject to subsection (8) below, traffic regulation conditions shall apply— (a) to all services operated in the area to which the conditions are expressed to apply; or (b) to such class of service operated there as may be specified in the conditions. (8) Where the traffic commissioner for any traffic area a traffic commissioner is satisfied that traffic regulation conditions applying generally to a particular part of his traffic area a traffic area would be inappropriate as a means of achieving the regulation of traffic which he considers is required there, he may determine traffic regulation conditions which apply only to the service or services specified in the conditions. (9) Before determining any traffic regulation conditions, a traffic commissioner shall hold an inquiry if he has received (within the prescribed period) a request for an inquiry a request for an inquiry has been received by a traffic commissioner (within the prescribed period) from— (a) the traffic authority which made the request under subsection (1) above; (b) any other traffic authority likely to be affected by traffic regulation conditions determined in response to that request; or (c) any person who has registered under section 6 of this Act a service which is or will be operated in the area in question; and the request has not been withdrawn. (10) Subsection (9) above shall not apply where the traffic commissioner is satisfied that the conditions should be determined without delay. (11) Where, in reliance on subsection (10) above, a traffic commissioner determines traffic regulation conditions without first holding an inquiry, he he or another traffic commissioner shall hold one as soon as is reasonably practicable if any person mentioned in subsection (9)(a) or (c) above or any other traffic authority affected by the conditions has, before the end of the prescribed period, asked him to do so if a request for a traffic commissioner to do so is made to a traffic commissioner, before the end of the prescribed period, by any person mentioned in subsection (9)(a) or (c) above or any other traffic authority affected by the conditions. (12) Before asking a traffic commissioner to exercise his powers under this section in relation to a a road for which the Secretary of State is the highway or roads authority, a traffic authority shall obtain leave of the Secretary of State; but leave given under this subsection shall not be taken to indicate the Secretary of State’s approval of any conditions determined by the traffic commissioner a traffic commissioner in response to the request. (13) Traffic regulation conditions may make different provision with respect to the operation of any service to which they apply during different periods of the year, on different days of the week, or at different times during any period of 24 hours. (14) A traffic commissioner may vary or revoke any traffic regulation conditions determined by him (whether determined by him or another traffic commissioner) on being requested to do so if a request for a traffic commissioner to do so is made to a traffic commissioner by— (a) any traffic authority; or (b) the operator of any service affected by the conditions. (14A) Where an enhanced partnership scheme under section 138A of the Transport Act 2000 comes into operation as regards an area, any traffic regulation condition expressed to apply in an area that consists of or includes the area to which the scheme relates ceases at that time to apply in the area to which the scheme relates. (14B) A traffic commissioner may accordingly vary or revoke a traffic regulation condition (without a request being made). (15) In this section “traffic authority” means— (a) in relation to England and Wales, the council of any metropolitan district or non-metropolitan county; and (b) in relation to Scotland, the council of any local government area. (16) The power to make regulations under subsections (6)(d), (9) and (11), so far as exercisable in relation to Wales, is exercisable by the Welsh Ministers (and not by the Secretary of State).

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8 Enforcement of traffic regulation conditions, etc.

(1) Where traffic regulation conditions have been determined under section 7 of this Act, it shall be the duty of the traffic commissioner by whom any relevant licence or permit has been granted a traffic commissioner to attach the conditions to that licence or, as the case may be, to that permit. (2) In this section— “licence” means a PSV operator’s licence; “permit” means a permit under section 22 of this Act; and a licence or permit is relevant for the purposes of this section if a local service registered under section 6 of this Act by the holder of the licence or permit is affected by the conditions. (3) Where the traffic commissioner who determined the traffic regulation conditions and the traffic commissioner who granted the relevant licence or permit are different, it shall be the duty of the commissioner determining the conditions to send to the other commissioner— (a) details of the conditions; and (b) the name of the person registering the particulars of the local service. (4) If traffic regulation conditions which have been attached to a licence or permit under this section are subsequently varied or revoked, it shall be the duty of the traffic commissioner or commissioners concerned to a traffic commissioner must secure that the conditions as so attached are correspondingly varied or (as the case may be) removed. (5) Traffic regulation conditions shall be of no effect to the extent to which they are incompatible with any provision made by or under any enactment prohibiting or restricting the use of any road by traffic. (6) Where the operator of a local service is unable both to operate the service in accordance with the particulars of the service registered under section 6 of this Act and to comply with— (a) traffic regulation conditions; or (b) any other provision of a kind mentioned in subsection (5) above; any failure to operate the service in accordance with those particulars which occurs at any time before the expiry of the prescribed period beginning with the coming into force of the conditions or provision shall be disregarded to the extent to which it is attributable to his having to comply with the conditions or provision.

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9 Appeals against traffic regulation conditions.

(1) Any person to whom subsection (2) below applies may appeal to the Upper Tribunal against— (a) the determination, variation or revocation of any traffic regulation conditions under section 7 of this Act; or (b) the refusal by a traffic commissioner to comply with a request duly made under that section to determine, vary or revoke any such conditions. (2) The persons to whom this subsection applies are— (a) in relation to any determination, variation or revocation of conditions— (i) any person who has registered under section 6 of this Act a local service which is, or is likely to be, affected by them; and (ii) any traffic authority aggrieved by the decision in question; and (b) in relation to any refusal to comply with a request, the person making the request. (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6) For the purposes of section 13(2) of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 (appeals to Court of Appeal etc. against decisions of the Upper Tribunal) the following persons are to be treated as parties to a case— (a) the person who appealed to the tribunal; (b) any person who had a right to appeal to the tribunal against the relevant decision of the traffic commissioner but did not exercise that right; (c) any traffic authority aggrieved by the decision; and (d) a traffic commissioner. (7) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (10) In this section “traffic authority” has the same meaning as in section 7 of this Act.

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10 Immediate hiring of taxis at separate fares.

(1) In the circumstances mentioned in subsection (2) below, a licensed taxi may be hired for use for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward at separate fares without thereby— (a) becoming a public service vehicle for the purposes of the 1981 Act or any related enactment; or (b) ceasing (otherwise than by virtue of any provision made under section 13 of this Act) to be subject to the taxi code. (2) The circumstances are that— (a) the taxi is hired in an area where a scheme made under this section is in operation; (b) the taxi is licensed by the licensing authority for that area; and (c) the hiring falls within the terms of the scheme. (3) In this section “licensing authority” means— (a) in relation to the London taxi area, Transport for London or the holder for the time being of any office designated by Transport for London for the purposes of this section; and (b) in relation to any other area in England and Wales, the authority having responsibility for licensing taxis in that area. (4) For the purposes of this section, a licensing authority may make a scheme for their area and shall make such a scheme if the holders of at least ten per cent. of the current taxi licences issued by the authority request the authority in writing to do so. (5) Any scheme made under this section shall— (a) designate the places in the area from which taxis may be hired under the scheme (“authorised places”); (b) specify the requirements to be met for the purposes of the scheme in relation to the hiring of taxis at separate fares; and (c) . . .— (i) include such provision, or provision of such description, as may be prescribed for the purposes of this sub-paragraph; (ii) not include provision of any such description as may be prescribed for the purposes of this sub-paragraph. (6) Subject to subsection (5) above, any scheme made under this section may, in particular, make provision with respect to— (a) fares; (b) the display of any document, plate, mark or sign for indicating an authorised place or that a taxi standing at an authorised place is available for the carriage of passengers at separate fares; (c) the manner in which arrangements are to be made for the carriage of passengers on any such hiring as is mentioned in subsection (1) above; and (d) the conditions to apply to the use of a taxi on any such hiring. (7) A licensing authority may, subject to subsection (5) above, vary any scheme made by them under this section. (8) . . . any scheme under this section, and any variation of such a scheme, shall be made in accordance with the prescribed procedure. (9) For the purposes of this section— (a) the hiring of a taxi falls within the terms of a scheme if— (i) it is hired from an authorised place; and (ii) the hiring meets the requirements specified by the licensing authority as those to be met for the purposes of the scheme; and (b) a taxi is hired from an authorised place if it is standing at that place when it is hired and the persons hiring it are all present there. (9A) The power to make regulations under subsections (5)(c) and (8), so far as exercisable in relation to Wales, is exercisable by the Welsh Ministers (and not by the Secretary of State). (10) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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11 Advance booking of taxis and hire cars at separate fares.

(1) Where the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) below are met, a licensed taxi or licensed hire car may be used for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward at separate fares without thereby— (a) becoming a public service vehicle for the purposes of the 1981 Act or any related enactment; or (b) ceasing (otherwise than by virtue of any provision made under section 13 of this Act) to be subject to the taxi code or (as the case may be) the hire car code. (2) The conditions are that— (a) all the passengers carried on the occasion in question booked their journeys in advance; and (b) each of them consented, when booking his journey, to sharing the use of the vehicle on that occasion with others on the basis that a separate fare would be payable by each passenger for his own journey on that occasion.

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12 Use of taxis or hire cars in providing local services.

(1) Where the holder of a taxi licence or a private hire vehicle licence — (a) applies to a traffic commissioner for a restricted PSV operator’s licence to be granted to him under Part II of the 1981 Act; and (b) states in his application that he proposes to use one or more licensed taxis or licensed hire cars to provide a local service; section 14 of the 1981 Act (conditions to be met before grant of PSV operator’s licence) shall not apply and the commissioner shall grant the application. (2) In this section “special licence” means a restricted PSV operator’s licence granted by virtue of this section. (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4) Without prejudice to his powers to attach other conditions under section 16 of the 1981 Act, any traffic commissioner granting a special licence shall attach to it, under that section, the conditions mentioned in subsection (5) below. (5) The conditions are— (a) that every vehicle used under the licence shall be one for which the holder of the licence has a taxi licence or a private hire vehicle licence; and (b) that no vehicle shall be used under the licence otherwise than for the purpose of providing a local service with one or more stopping places within the area of the authority which granted the relevant licence for that vehicle. (6) In subsection (5)(b) above “local service” does not include an excursion or tour. (7) The maximum number of vehicles which the holder of a special licence may at any one time use under the licence shall be the number of vehicles for which (for the time being) he holds relevant licences; and a condition to that effect shall be attached to every special licence under section 16(1) of the 1981 Act. (8) Section 1(2) of the 1981 Act (vehicle used as public service vehicle to be treated as such until that use is permanently discontinued) shall not apply to any use of a licensed taxi or a licensed hire car for the provision of a local service under a special licence. (9) At any time when a licensed taxi or a licensed hire car is being so used it shall carry such documents, plates and marks, in such manner, as may be prescribed. (10) At any time when a licensed taxi or a licensed hire car is being so used the prescribed provisions of the taxi code or, as the case may be, the hire car code shall apply in relation to it; and any such provision may be so applied subject to such modifications as may be prescribed. (10A) In subsections (9) and (10) “prescribed” means prescribed by the appropriate authority. (11) For the purposes of section 12(3) of the 1981 Act (which provides that where two or more PSV operators’ licences are held they must be granted ... for different traffic areas), special licences shall be disregarded. (12) A person may hold more than one special licence but shall not at the same time hold more than one such licence in relation to a particular traffic area. (13) The following provisions shall not apply in relation to special licences or (as the case may be) the use of vehicles under such licences— (a) sections 16(1A) and (2), 17(3)(d), 18 to 20 . . . and 26 of the 1981 Act; and (b) section 26(5) and (6) of this Act; and for the purposes of section 12 of that Act this section shall be treated as if it were in Part II of that Act.

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13 Provisions supplementary to sections 10 to 12.

(1) The appropriate authority may by order make such modifications of the taxi code and the hire car code as it sees fit for the purpose of supplementing the provisions of sections 10 to 12 of this Act. (2) Any order made under subsection (1) above may, in particular, modify any provision— (a) relating to fares payable by the hirer of a vehicle; (b) requiring the driver of any vehicle to accept any hiring, or to drive at the direction of a hirer, or (as the case may be) of a prospective hirer, to any place within or not exceeding any specified distance or for any period of time not exceeding a specified period from the time of hiring; (c) making the carriage of additional passengers in any vehicle which is currently subject to a hiring dependent on the consent of the hirer. (3) In this section, and in sections 10 to 12 of this Act— “the appropriate authority” means— (a) in relation to— (i) a taxi licensed under section 37 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 or any similar enactment which applies outside the London taxi area, (ii) a licensed hire car licensed under section 48 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, or (iii) a taxi or private hire car licensed under section 10 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, the Secretary of State; (b) in relation to— (i) a taxi licensed under section 6 of the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869, or (ii) a licensed hire car licensed under section 7 of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998, Transport for London; “licenced taxi” means— (a) in England and Wales, a vehicle licensed under— (i) section 37 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847; or (ii) section 6 of the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869; or under any similar enactment; and (b) in Scotland, a taxi licensed under section 10 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982; “London taxi area” means the area to which the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869 applies; “licensed hire car” means— (a) in England and Wales— (i) for the purposes of section 11 of this Act, a vehicle licensed under section 48 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 or section 7 of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998, (ii) for the purposes of section 12 of this Act, a vehicle licensed under section 48 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976; (b) in Scotland, a private hire car licensed under section 10 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982; “hire car code”, in relation to a licensed hire car used as mentioned in section 11 or 12 of this Act, means those provisions made by or under any enactment which would apply if it were hired by a single passenger for his exclusive use; “related enactment”, in relation to the 1981 Act, means any statutory provision (whenever passed or made) relating to public service vehicles in which “public service vehicle” is defined directly or indirectly by reference to the provisions of the 1981 Act; “taxi code”, in relation to any licensed taxi used as mentioned in section 10, 11 or 12 of this Act, means— (a) in England and Wales, those provisions made by or under any enactment which would apply if the vehicle were plying for hire and were hired by a single passenger for his exclusive use; and (b) in Scotland, the provisions of sections 10 to 23 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, and Part I of that Act as it applies to these provisions; and “taxi licence” means a licence under section 6 of the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869, section 37 of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 or any similar enactment, or a taxi licence under section 10 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. "relevant licence " means— (a) in relation to a licensed taxi, a taxi licence, and (b) in relation to a licensed hire car, a private hire vehicle licence; “private hire vehicle licence” means— in England and Wales, a licence under section 48 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976; in Scotland, a private hire car licence under section 10 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982. (4) Any order made under subsection (1) above may contain such supplementary, incidental, consequential and transitional provisions (including provisions modifying any enactment contained in any Act other than this Act) as appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient in consequence of any modification of the taxi code or the private hire car code made by the order. (5) The power to make an order under subsection (1) for the purpose of supplementing section 10 or 11, so far as exercisable in relation to Wales, is exercisable by the Welsh Ministers (and not by the Secretary of State); and the reference to the Secretary of State in subsection (4) is to be read accordingly.

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13A Application of sections 10 to 13 to London

(1) Transport for London may by order provide that section 12 of this Act is to apply to vehicles licensed under section 7 of the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 as it applies to vehicles licensed under section 48 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. (2) An order under subsection (1) of this section may amend the definitions of “licensed hire car” and “private hire vehicle licence” in section 13 of this Act accordingly. (3) Transport for London must consult such representative organisations as it thinks fit before making— (a) regulations under section 12(9) or (10) of this Act; (b) an order under section 13(1) of this Act or subsection (1) of this section. (4) Any power of Transport for London to make— (a) regulations under section 12(9) or (10) of this Act, or (b) an order under section 13(1) of this Act, includes a power to vary or revoke any previous such regulations or order (as the case may be). (5) Subsection (4) applies notwithstanding that the previous regulations were made, or the previous order was made, by the Secretary of State by statutory instrument. (6) Transport for London must print and publish— (a) any regulations made by it under section 12(9) or (10) of this Act; (b) any order made by it under section 13(1) of this Act or subsection (1) of this section. (7) Transport for London may charge a fee for the sale of copies of any regulations, or any order, printed under subsection (6).

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14 Operation of taxis and private hire cars in Scotland for the carriage of passengers at separate fares.

(1) As respects Scotland, a taxi (other than a taxi which is for the time being operating a local service which is or requires to be registered under this Part of this Act, has been previously advertised and has a destination and route which are not entirely at the discretion of the passengers) or private hire car which is used for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward at separate fares shall not by reason of such use become a public service vehicle for the purposes of the 1981 Act or any related enactment. (2) In this section “taxi” and “private hire car” have the meanings given in section 23 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and “related enactment” has the meaning given in section 13(3) of this Act.

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15 Extension of taxi licensing in England and Wales.

(1) Where, immediately before the commencement of this section, the provisions of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 with respect to hackney carriages and of the Town Police Clauses Act 1889 (as incorporated in each case in the Public Health Act 1875) were not in force throughout the whole of the area of a district council in England and Wales whose area lies outside the area to which the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869 applies, those provisions (as so incorporated) shall— (a) if not then in force in any part of the council’s area, apply throughout that area; and (b) if in force in part only of its area, apply also in the remainder of that area. (2) Where part only of a district council’s area lies outside the area to which the Act of 1869 applies, that part shall, for the purposes of subsection (1) above, be treated as being the area of the council. (3) So much of any local Act as enables a district council to bring to an end the application of the provisions mentioned in subsection (1) above to the whole or any part of their area shall cease to have effect.

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16 Taxi licensing: control of numbers.

The provisions of the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 with respect to hackney carriages, as incorporated in any enactment (whenever passed), shall (subject to section 161 of the Equality Act 2010) have effect— (a) as if in section 37, the words “such number of” and “as they think fit” were omitted; and (b) as if they provided that the grant of a licence may be refused, for the purpose of limiting the number of hackney carriages in respect of which licences are granted, if, but only if, the person authorised to grant licences is satisfied that there is no significant demand for the services of hackney carriages (within the area to which the licence would apply) which is unmet.

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17 London taxi and taxi driver licensing: appeals.

(1) In this section— “licence” means a licence under section 6 of the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869 (taxi licences) or under section 8 of that Act (taxi driver licences); and “licensing authority” means the person empowered to grant a licence. (2) Where the licensing authority has refused to grant, or has suspended or revoked, a licence the applicant for, or (as the case may be) holder of, the licence may, before the expiry of the designated period— (a) require the authority to reconsider his decision; or (b) appeal to a magistrates' court. (3) Any call for a reconsideration under subsection (2) above must be made to the licensing authority in writing. (4) On any reconsideration under this section the person calling for the decision to be reconsidered shall be entitled to be heard either in person or by his representative. (5) If the person calling for a decision to be reconsidered under this section is dissatisfied with the decision of the licensing authority on reconsideration, he may, before the expiry of the designated period, appeal to a magistrates' court. (6) On any appeal to it under this section, the court may make such order as it thinks fit; and any order which it makes shall be binding on the licensing authority. (7) Where a person holds a licence which is in force when he applies for a new licence in substitution for it, the existing licence shall (subject to subsections (12) to (14)) continue in force until the application for the new licence, or any appeal under this section in relation to that application, is disposed of, but without prejudice to the exercise in the meantime of any power of the licensing authority to revoke the existing licence. (8) For the purposes of subsection (7) above, where the licensing authority refuses to grant the new licence the application shall not be treated as disposed of— (a) where no call for a reconsideration of the authority’s decision is made under subsection (2) above, until the expiry of the designated period; (b) where such a reconsideration is called for, until the expiry of the designated periodwhich begins by reference to the decision of the authority on reconsideration. (9) Where the licensing authority suspends or revokes a licence, or confirms a decision to do so, he may, if the holder of the licence so requests, direct that his decision shall not have effect until the expiry of the designated period. (10) In this section . . . . “designated period” means such period as may be specified for the purpose by London cab order; “London cab order” means an order made by Transport for London (11) Any power to make a London cab order under this section includes power to vary or revoke a previous such order. (12) Subsection (13) applies where— (a) the application mentioned in subsection (7) is an application for a licence under section 8 of the Metropolitan Public Carriage Act 1869 (taxi driver licences), (b) at any time after the application is made, the licensing authority requests the applicant to give it further information for the purpose of enabling it to make a request, or make a further request, under paragraph 3(2)(a) of Schedule 33 to the Finance Act 2021 (request for confirmation of completed tax check) in relation to the application, and (c) at the end of the relevant period, the licensing authority continues to be prevented from considering the application by virtue of paragraph 3(2) of that Schedule to that Act. (13) The existing licence mentioned in subsection (7) expires at the end of the relevant period. (14) In subsections (12) and (13) “the relevant period” means— (a) the period of 28 days beginning with the day on which the request under subsection (12)(b) is made, or (b) if the final day of that period is earlier than the day on which (disregarding subsections (7) and (13)) the existing licence mentioned in subsection (7) expires, the period ending with that later day.

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18 Exemption from PSV operator and driver licensing requirements of vehicles used under permits.

(1) Section 12(1) of the 1981 Act (licensing of operators . . . in relation to the use of public service vehicles for the carriage of passengers) shall not apply— (a) to the use by an exempt body of any vehicle under a permit granted under section 19 of this Act, if and so long as the requirements under subsection (2) of that section are met; or (b) to the use by an exempt body of any vehicle under a permit granted under section 22 of this Act; (2) Where a holder of a licence under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988 was first granted a licence under that Part before 1st January 1997, he may drive any small bus at a time when it is being used as mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) above, notwithstanding that his licence under that Part does not authorise him to drive a small bus when it is being so used. (3) Where— (a) a holder of a licence under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988 was first granted a licence under that Part on or after 1st January 1997, or (b) a Community licence holder is authorised by virtue of section 99A(1) of that Act to drive in Great Britain a motor vehicle of any class, he may drive any small bus to which subsection (4) below applies at a time when it is being used as mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of subsection (1) above, notwithstanding that he is not authorised by his licence under that Part or by virtue of that section (as the case may be) to drive such a bus. (4) This subsection applies to any small bus which, when laden with the heaviest load which it is constructed to carry, weighs— (a) not more than 3.5 tonnes, excluding any part of that weight which is attributable to specialised equipment intended for the carriage of disabled passengers, and (b) not more than 4.25 tonnes otherwise. (5) In this section— “Community licence” has the same meaning as in Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, ... “exempt body” means a body— to whom the 2009 Regulation does not apply because the body is not engaged (and does not intend to engage) in the occupation of road transport operator (as defined in the 2009 Regulation); to whom the 2009 Regulation does not apply by virtue of Article 1(4)(b) of the 2009 Regulation (non-commercial purposes or main occupation not road passenger transport operator); or who satisfies the requirements of Article 1(5)(b) of the 2009 Regulation (minor impact on the transport market because of the short distances involved); “small bus” has the same meaning as in sections 19 to 21 of this Act ; and “the 2009 Regulation” means Regulation (EC) No. 1071/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 establishing common rules concerning the conditions to be complied with to pursue the occupation of road transport operator and repealing Council Directive 96/26/EC. (6) For the purposes of paragraph (c) of the definition of “exempt body”, the circumstances in which a body engaged exclusively in national transport operations (within the meaning of the 2009 Regulation) is to be taken to satisfy the requirements of Article 1(5)(b) of that Regulation include (but are not limited to) a case where, except on an occasional basis— (a) each service operated by the body using a public service vehicle under a permit is operated within a radius of ten miles from a place specified by that body upon applying for the grant (or variation) of that permit; or (b) in respect of each service operated by the body using a public service vehicle under a permit, the distance from the first place where any passenger using that service is taken up to the last place where any passenger using that service is set down, is not more than ten miles, measured in a straight line.

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19 Permits in relation to use of public service vehicles by educational and other bodies

(1) In this section and sections 20 and 21 of this Act— “bus” means a vehicle which is adapted to carry more than eight passengers; “exempt body” has the same meaning as in section 18 of this Act; “large bus” means a vehicle which is adapted to carry more than sixteen passengers; “small bus” means a vehicle which is adapted to carry more than eight but not more than sixteen passengers; and “permit” means a permit granted to an exempt body under this section in relation to the use of a public service vehicle for carrying passengers for hire or reward. (2) The requirements that must be met in relation to the use of a public service vehicle under a permit for the exemption under section 18(1)(a) of this Act to apply are that the vehicle— (a) is being used by an exempt body to whom a permit has been granted under this section; (b) is not being used for the carriage of members of the general public nor with a view to profit nor incidentally to an activity which is itself carried on with a view to profit; (c) is being used in every respect in accordance with any conditions attached to the permit; and (d) is not being used in contravention of any provision of regulations made under section 21 of this Act. (3) A permit in relation to the use of a public service vehicle other than a large bus may be granted by an exempt body designated by an order under subsection (7) below either to itself or to any other exempt body to whom, in accordance with the order, it is entitled to grant a permit. (4) A permit in relation to the use of a public service vehicle other than a large bus may be granted by a traffic commissioner to any exempt body appearing to him to be eligible in accordance with subsection (8) below and to be carrying on ... an activity which makes it so eligible. (5) A permit in relation to the use of a large bus may be granted by a traffic commissioner to any exempt body which assists and co-ordinates the activities of bodies ... which appear to him to be concerned with— (a) education; (b) religion; (c) social welfare; or (d) other activities of benefit to the community. (6) A traffic commissioner shall not grant a permit in relation to the use of a large bus unless satisfied that there will be adequate facilities or arrangements for maintaining any bus used under the permit in a fit and serviceable condition. (7) The Secretary of State may by order designate for the purpose of this section exempt bodies appearing to him to be eligible in accordance with subsection (8) below and, with respect to any exempt body designated by it, any such order— (a) shall specify the classes of exempt body to whom the designated body may grant permits; (b) may impose restrictions with respect to the grant of permits by the designated body and, in particular, may provide that no permit may be granted, either generally or in such cases as may be specified in the order, unless there are attached to the permit such conditions as may be so specified; and (c) may require the designated body to make returns and keep records with regard to the permits granted , varied or revoked by it. (8) An exempt body is eligible in accordance with this subsection if it is concerned with— (a) education; (b) religion; (c) social welfare; (d) recreation; or (e) other activities of benefit to the community. (9) An exempt body may hold more than one permit but may not use more than one vehicle at any one time under the same permit.

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20 Further provision with respect to permits under section 19.

(1) Subject to subsection (2) below, a permit shall specify the body to whom it is granted. (2) A permit may be granted to a named individual on behalf of a body if, having regard to the nature of that body, it appears to the traffic commissioner or body granting the permit appropriate to do so. (3) Where a permit is granted to a named individual on behalf of a body, it shall be treated for the purposes of this section and section 19 of this Act as granted to that body. (4) In addition to any conditions attached to such a permit by virtue of section 19(7)(b) of this Act, the traffic commissioner or other body granting such a permit may attach to it such conditions as he or that body considers appropriate, including, in particular, conditions— (a) limiting the passengers who may be carried in any vehicle used under the permit to persons falling within such classes as may be specified in the permit; and (b) with respect to such other matters as may be prescribed. (5) Subject to subsection (6) below— (a) a permit issued by a traffic commissioner may be varied or revoked by a traffic commissioner; (b) a permit issued by a body designated under section 19(7) may be varied or revoked— (i) by that body, or (ii) by a traffic commissioner after consultation with that body. (6) A permit may not be varied so as to substitute another body for the body to whom it was granted. (7) A permit shall remain in force until— (a) it is revoked under subsection (5) above; or (b) in the case of a permit granted by a body designated under section 19(7) of this Act, that body ceases to be so designated ; or (c) it ceases to have effect under subsection (8) or (9) below (8) A permit granted at any time to an exempt body ceases to have effect on the date on which the body ceases to be an exempt body. (9) A permit granted before 1st October 2019 ceases to have effect on that date if the body to whom it was granted is not an exempt body on that date.

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21 Permits under section 19: regulations.

(1) Regulations may prescribe— (a) the conditions to be fulfilled by any person driving a public service vehicle while it is being used under a permit; (b) the conditions as to fitness which are to be fulfilled by any small bus used under a permit; (c) the form of permits; and (d) the documents, plates and marks to be carried by any vehicle while it is being used under a permit and the manner and position in which they are to be carried. (2) Where regulations are made by virtue of subsection (1)(b) above, section 6 of the 1981 Act (certificate of initial fitness for public service vehicles) shall not apply in relation to any small bus subject to the regulations. (3) Regulations under this section may contain such transitional provisions as the Secretary of State thinks fit. (4) See also section 23A of this Act (power to limit permits under section 19 or 22 to 5 years).

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