Ken Skates AM, Minister for Economy and Transport
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
The Bus Services (Wales) Bill and the accompanying Explanatory Memorandum have today been laid before the National Assembly.
The purpose of the Bill is to provide local authorities with an improved range of tools to use in the planning and delivery of local bus services in their areas. The Bill will also put in place new information sharing arrangements.
The Bill will amend current legislative provisions on partnership working and franchising, and will remove the restriction which currently prevents a local authority from running bus services. These amended provisions will provide local authorities with more effective ways to plan and deliver bus services to the people and communities of Wales.
The information sharing provisions will enable the gathering of data in connection with matters such as routes, timetables, ticket options and live information. This information will be made available to the public and will, amongst other things, allow passengers and prospective passengers, to better manage their journeys from start to finish. The information sharing provisions will also enable local authorities to obtain information on registered services which operators are proposing to withdraw or vary, so that they can consider and make arrangements for alternative provision where appropriate.
I will make an oral statement about the Bill to the National Assembly tomorrow.