Member

The amendment raises the issue of minimum service levels and quality standards that would apply to all franchising schemes. It would, in effect, make the Secretary of State for Transport the franchising authority by proxy. That is clearly not the intention of this Bill. The Bill intends to provide local transport authorities with the ability to choose the best option for providing services in their area; this includes the level of service that is needed. Local transport authorities must be best placed to make these decisions. The assessment that they will make, if they choose to pursue this route, is based on the continuing transport needs of local people and their communities. As we have discussed before, the needs of one community, such as Manchester, will differ from the needs of another.