Commentary on Sections Section 2: Commencement and transitional provision
9.The substantive provisions of the Act will come into force in accordance with orders made under section 2 by the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, or the National Assembly for Wales
10.The changes for Greater London – section 2(2) – may only be commenced with effect from the beginning of a financial year (1 April) and the relevant commencement order must be made before the preceding 1st January. This is to take account of the provisions contained in sections 240(1) and 241(1) the 1999 Act (as amended by section 151 of the 2000 Act). These provisions together provide that the uniform travel concessions must be available to all London residents (regardless of the borough in which they live) and require Transport for London (“TfL”) to be satisfied by 31 December in each year that the arrangements made by local authorities in Greater London for the next financial year comply with the provisions of that Act.
11.By treating the amendment to the 1999 Act as if it were in force upon the making of the commencement order bringing it into force, the transitional provision at section 2(3) enables those local authorities to make the necessary advance arrangements with TfL in respect of the first financial year for which the amendment will be relevant.