The Transport (Wales) Act 2006 (Commencement) Order 2006

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order brings into force the provisions of the Transport (Wales) Act 2006 (c. 6) (“the Act”).

References to sections or Schedules are, unless indicated otherwise, references to sections of, or Schedules to, the Act.

The effect of the Act is to provide the National Assembly for Wales with additional powers in the field of transport which, together with its existing powers, will enable the National Assembly for Wales to develop and implement, in partnership with Welsh local authorities and other bodies, a safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport system serving Wales.

Section 1 confers a general transport duty on the National Assembly for Wales to develop policies for a safe, sustainable and efficient transport service in Wales, to include provisions for pedestrians and cyclists.

Section 2 places a requirement upon the National Assembly for Wales to produce a Wales Transport Strategy, detailing its transport policies, and to keep the Strategy under regular review.

Section 3 enacts the Schedule to the Act. The Schedule amends Part 2 of the Transport Act 2000 (c. 38) which relates to local transport plans. The Schedule makes the necessary amendments so as to require local transport authorities in Wales to include in their local transport plans their policies for implementing the Wales Transport Strategy in their area. It also requires local transport authorities in Wales to submit their local transport plans to the National Assembly for Wales for approval.

Section 4 confers a power on the National Assembly for Wales to direct two or more local authorities in Wales to enter into arrangements for the joint discharge of transport functions.

Section 5 confers a power on the National Assembly for Wales to establish, by Order, joint transport authorities, which would be corporate bodies, to enable local authorities to jointly discharge transport functions within their area.

Section 6 confers a power on the National Assembly for Wales to give financial assistance to joint transport authorities and local authorities to assist them in discharging their transport functions.

Section 7 confers a power on the National Assembly for Wales to secure provision of any public passenger transport service for the purpose of meeting public transport requirements which would not otherwise be met.

Section 8 confers a power on the National Assembly for Wales to establish a Public Transport Users' Committee for Wales.

Section 9 provides detail concerning the functions of the Public Transport Users' Committee for Wales.

Section 10 confers a power on the National Assembly for Wales to issue guidance and directions to the Public Transport Users' Committee for Wales as to how it should discharge its functions.

Section 11 confers a power on the National Assembly for Wales to give financial assistance to air transport services in Wales in circumstances where the services would not be provided otherwise than with such assistance.