Summary and Background
3.The provisions in the Act are intended to address increasing road congestion and to improve the quality of local bus services. The policy context and related background were set out in the consultation document Strengthening Local Delivery: the draft Local Transport Bill, published in May 2007 (Cm 7043). The Government’s response to the consultation was published in November 2007, and copies are available from the Department for Transport’s website (www.dft.gov.uk).
4.The Act contains provisions to amend the law relating to:
	the responsibilities of local authorities in relation to local transport policies and plans;
	the operation of local bus services and related matters, including provisions relating to traffic commissioners;
	the constitution and functions of Passenger Transport Authorities (“PTAs”), which are renamed as Integrated Transport Authorities (“ITAs”);
	the establishment and operation of local and London road user charging schemes (commonly referred to as “local road pricing schemes”).
5.It also contains provision conferring a new framework power on the National Assembly for Wales that will enable the Assembly to make provision for and in connection with charging schemes for Welsh trunk roads, and certain other miscellaneous provisions.