Lords asks government to think again on Bus Services Bill

The Bus Services (No. 2) Bill aims to give local authorities control over routes, timetables, connections and fares.

Detailed scrutiny 

Report stage is an extra chance for members to closely scrutinise elements of the bill and make changes.    

Two days of report stage were scheduled:

• Wednesday 26 March
• Wednesday 2 April.

Proposed changes 

Members speaking on the second and final day of report stage put forward amendments (PDF) to the bill on subjects including: 

• assessment of 'floating' bus stops for safety and accessibility
• zero emission bus services for local providers
• review of the English national concessionary travel scheme.

Lords votes

There were five divisions (votes) on proposed changes to the bill. Members voted to agree amendments relating to:

• bus services to villages in England
• a programme to reduce bus-related injuries
• data sharing on assaults and violent behaviour on bus services.

Two further changes on the design of stopping places for buses and £2 bus fare scheme were disagreed to by members.

Catch up

• Watch the Parliament TV recording.
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript.

Explore further information 

Find out more about the draft law in the House of Lords Library briefing.  

Next steps

Third reading, a final chance to 'tidy up' the bill and make sure the new law is effective, workable and without loopholes, is yet to be scheduled.

What's happened so far? 

Report stage day one: Wednesday 26 March

Votes

Following amendments put forward by members on the first day of report stage, there were six divisions (votes) on proposed changes to the bill. 

Members voted to agree to three amendments to the bill on:

• performance, quality and accessibility of bus passenger services
• assessment of the impact of ending the £2 bus fare cap
• assessment of the impact of employers’ National Insurance contributions.

There were also three votes relating to bus franchises. Members voted to disagree to these amendments, so the changes were not made.

Catch up 

• Watch on Parliament TV. 
• Read the Lords Hansard transcript. 

Committee stage 

Line-by-line examination of the bill took place during committee stage between Tuesday 28 January and Thursday 13 February.

Second reading

Second reading, a full debate on the key principles of the bill, took place on Wednesday 8 January.

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