Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment she has made of the benefits of creating a publicly accessible register of community transport operators and community bus routes in England.

Community transport is primarily operated by charities. In England, Wales and Scotland, these organisations can run not-for-profit community services using Transport Act Section 19 and Section 22 permits, so they do not need a Public Service Vehicle Operator’s licence. In Northern Ireland operators can operate under Section 10B permits.

Section 19 permits can be issued by Designated Bodies listed in The Transport Act 1985 Section 19 Minibus (Designated Bodies) Order 1987. The Office of the Traffic Commissioner and Community Transport Association issue the greatest number of permits. Designated Bodies may hold their own records of the permits they issue.