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Explanatory note

Original text. Later amendments are not shown.

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations implement the Protocol to Interbus regarding the international regular and special regular carriage of passengers by coach and bus (“the RSR Protocol”), which extended the Agreement on the international occasional carriage of passengers by coach and bus (Interbus Agreement) concluded in Brussels on 30th June 2001 (“the Interbus Agreement”), acceded to by the United Kingdom in October 2020.

These Regulations also amend existing legislation to implement the road traffic passenger transport chapter of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union (“the RPT Chapter”).

Part 2 makes amendments in relation to Great Britain. In particular:

(a)

regulation 3 amends the Road Transport (International Passenger Services) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1395) to:

  • insert a new regulation 3A, which provides that the RPT Chapter, the Interbus Agreement and the RSR Protocol, as they have effect on 1st April 2025, form part of domestic law on and after that date (regulation 3(3));

  • provide that the competent authority for certain purposes is the Secretary of State and for other purposes is the Confederation of Passenger Transport (regulation 3(4));

  • insert new Schedules 3 and 4 which provide for offences for breach of provisions of the RSR Protocol and the RPT Chapter (regulation 3(12) and Schedule 1);

(b)

regulation 4 amends Schedule 1 to the Road Traffic (Foreign Vehicles) Act 1972 (c. 27) (provisions conferring functions on examiners) and Schedule 2 to that Act (provisions relating to vehicles and their drivers);

(c)

regulations 5 and 6 make consequential amendments to the Motor Vehicles (International Circulation) Order 1975 (S.I. 1975/1208) and the Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 (c. 14).

Part 3 makes amendments in relation to Northern Ireland. In particular:

(a)

regulation 7 amends the Public Service Vehicles (International Passenger Services) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2019 (S.R. 2019 No. 27) to:

  • insert a new regulation 2A, which provides that the RPT Chapter, the Interbus Agreement and the RSR Protocol, as they have effect on 1st April 2025, form part of the law of Northern Ireland on and after that date (regulation 7(3));

  • insert new Schedules 3 and 4 which provide for offences for breach of provisions of the RSR Protocol and the RPT Chapter (regulation 7(11) and Schedule 2);

(b)

regulation 8 amends sections 34(a) (forgery of licences), 35(f) (false statements) and 81(1) (interpretation) of the Transport Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 (c. 37 (N.I.));

(c)

regulation 9 makes consequential amendments to Schedule 1 (statutory provisions conferring functions on authorised officers) and Schedule 2 (statutory provisions relating to vehicles and their drivers) to the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/154 (N.I.1)).

Part 4 contains further consequential provisions.

A full impact assessment has not been prepared for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

An Explanatory Memorandum has been prepared for this instrument and is available alongside this instrument on the UK legislation website: www.legislation.gov.uk.