To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost of implementing the proposals in European Commission document SEC (2008) 2953 relating to the rights of passengers in bus and coach transport. [HL700]

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consult operators in the bus and coach industry about implementing the proposals in European Commission document SEC (2008) 2953; and whether such consultation will include small and large operators. [HL701]

The Department for Transport is currently preparing an initial impact assessment on the European Commission's proposal for a new regulation on bus and coach passenger rights. The department will shortly be consulting on the proposal to help inform the Government's position and it is intended that the initial impact assessment will form part of that consultation. Any operator will be able to respond to the consultation, and the department will be seeking the views of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, the trade association for the bus and coach industry, that represents both small and large operators. An Explanatory Memorandum (EM 16933/08) on the proposal was submitted to Parliament on 13 January 2009. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.