8.—(1) Section 26 (invitations to tender for franchises)(1) is amended as follows.
(2) In subsections (4A), (4B) and (4D) after “the Secretary of State” insert “, the Welsh Ministers”.
(3) For subsection (4E) substitute—
“(4E) Before preparing, altering or replacing a statement of policy the Secretary of State, the Welsh Ministers and the Scottish Ministers must undertake such consultation as they consider appropriate.”
(4) In subsection (4F) after paragraph (a) omit “and” and insert—
“(aa)in the case of a statement prepared, altered or replaced by the Welsh Ministers, before the National Assembly for Wales; and”.
Section 26 was amended by the Transport Act 2000 (c. 38), Schedule 16, paragraph 16(3)(b); the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 (c. 20), Schedule 2, paragraph 3; the Railways Act 2005 (c. 14), Schedule 1, paragraph 15; and the Office of Rail Regulation (Change of Name) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/1682), Schedule 1, paragraph 1(ii).