Draft Transport (Wales) Bill

A draft Transport (Wales) Bill has been laid before Parliament today.

The Wales Office and the Welsh Assembly Government have worked closely to prepare the draft Bill.  It would provide the Assembly with a coherent set of transport related powers for the first time.  It gives effect to the Assembly’s request to be granted these powers, which would enable the Assembly Government to take forward its integrated transport strategy.

The main measures in the draft Bill are:

 A new duty on the Assembly to publish a Wales Transport Strategy and new arrangements for local transport planning.

 Provision for joint working by local authorities and for joint transport authorities, to enable local authority transport functions to be carried out on a regional basis.

 A power for the Assembly to secure the provision of public passenger transport services, where the requirement for such services would not otherwise be met.

 An enhanced role for the Assembly in relation to rail services in Wales.  

 A power for the Assembly to give financial assistance in respect of air services and airport facilities.  

The Bill is being published in draft form to allow advance scrutiny by the Welsh Affairs Committee and the Economic Development and Transport Committee.  In addition, an extensive public consultation is being undertaken to seek the views of a wide range of stakeholders.  The Wales Office and the Assembly will be considering the results of this process over the summer and will also be taking account of the outcome of the rail review being conducted by the Secretary of State for Transport.  

An electronic copy of the draft Bill, together with the explanatory notes and Regulatory Impact Assessment, is attached.  A paper copy is being sent to all Assembly Members.