CONTRACTS AND PARTNERSHIPS

The Transport Act 1985 provided for light control of bus services in the UK, and for privatisation. Since 1997 there has been growing pressure for re-regulation, especially from the Passenger Transport Authorities in the former Metropolitan Counties. Steps toward this were taken in the Transport Act 2000. Now we have the Local Transport Act 2008, which could provide for this to be taken further; a Statutory Contract Scheme would enable the Integrated Transport Authority to remove commercial decision-making from bus operators and end all competition. Other parts of the new Act would allow further steps in the same direction. This article argues that its application should be carefully watched and criticised.