Commentary Part 4: General provisions relating to passenger transport Sections 57 to 61: Vehicles used under permits
164.These sections amend sections 19 to 23 of the TA 1985, which enable certain voluntary bodies to operate public service vehicles without a PSV operator’s licence (which would otherwise be required under section 12 of the PPVA 1981).
165.Section 19 of the TA 1985 enables permits to be granted to educational, religious, social welfare and other bodies. The effect of a permit is that the body does not need a PSV operator’s licence to operate passenger-carrying services for members of the body. Members of the general public may not be carried on such services. Section 22 of the same Act enables permits to be granted, under certain conditions, for the provision of local services for the general public.
166.Permits for “small buses” (as defined in section 19(1) of the TA 1985) may be granted either by the traffic commissioners or by bodies designated by order under section 19(7) of that Act. Bodies so designated include local authorities and a number of national non-Governmental organisations.
167.These sections extend to Great Britain.