The Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 (Commencement and Transitional Provisions) Order 2007

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order commences the provisions of the Concessionary Bus Travel Act 2007 (“the 2007 Act”) on 1st April 2008 (article 3).

However, article 2 commences the 2007 Act on 17th October 2007, in order, in advance of the commencement of the new arrangements for concessionary bus travel—

• to permit the Secretary of State to issue guidance in relation to the new bus concession arrangements;

• to permit the making of Regulations as to the form of statutory travel concession permits (the new concessionary bus passes);

• to permit the issue of new permits by travel concession authorities in England, any London authority and the Council of the Isles of Scilly before the new concession becomes available to those entitled to it, so that permits can be used by those entitled as soon as the Act comes fully into force;

• to permit travel concession authorities in England to determine the arrangements in relation to re-imbursement of bus operators under the new system;

• to permit the Secretary of State to take any such steps as are required to determine applications by bus operators in respect of such arrangements and to direct the travel concession authorities with regard to the outcome of those applications;

• to permit London authorities and Transport for London to make any arrangements necessary in relation to the new concessions and any arrangements for the joint exercise by London authorities of their functions; and

• to require Transport for London to take account of the new concessionary arrangements when forming their view as to whether or not the statutory free travel scheme shall have effect and when notifying authorities of the charges they are to pay where it does apply.

Article 4 makes transitional provision in relation to the continued effect of “old” statutory travel concession permits issued by English authorities pursuant to section 145 of the Transport Act 2000 prior to the commencement of the 2007 Act. Such passes will continue to have effect until 30th September 2008 or the expiry date marked on them, whichever is the earlier. In relation to such permits, the relevant statutory provisions (including those relating to re-imbursement of operators) will continue to apply in their unamended form.