Citation, commencement and extent

1.-(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Rights of Passengers in Bus and Coach Transport (Exemptions and Enforcement) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 and come into force on 1st March 2017.

(2) These Regulations do not extend to Northern Ireland.

Amendment of Regulations

2.-(1) The Rights of Passengers in Bus and Coach Transport (Exemptions and Enforcement) Regulations 2013(3) are amended as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) In regulation 2(1)-

(a)after the definition of "enforcement authority", insert-

""exemption period" means the period which commences on 1st March 2017 and ends at midnight on 28th February 2021;"; and

(b)omit the definition of "initial exemption period".

(3) In regulations 4(1) and 5(1), for "the initial exemption period", substitute "the exemption period".

Amendment of the Consumer Rights Act 2015

3.  In section 48 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015(4) (contracts covered by Chapter 4 of Part 1), after subsection (3) insert-

"(3A) This Chapter does not apply to anything that is governed by Regulation (EU) No 181/2011(5) of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 concerning the rights of passengers in bus and coach transport and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004(6)."

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Rights of Passengers in Bus and Coach Transport (Exemptions and Enforcement) Regulations 2013 ("the 2013 Regulations"). The 2013 Regulations gave effect to Articles 2(4), 2(5), 12 and 16(2) and Chapter VI of Regulation (EU) No 181/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 concerning the rights of passengers in bus and coach transport and amending Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 ("Regulation 181/2011"). Regulation 181/2011 is directly applicable in Member States.

Regulation 2 amends the 2013 Regulations by renewing, for the maximum period of four years permitted by Articles 2(4) and 2(5) of Regulation 181/2011, the exemption from the application of Regulation 181/2011 of domestic regular services; and the exemption from specified aspects of Regulation 181/2011 of particular regular services because a significant part, including at least one scheduled stop, is operated outside the European Union. The exemptions will end at midnight on 28th February 2021.

Regulation 3 amends the Consumer Rights Act 2015 to ensure that Chapter 4 of Part 1 (service contracts) does not apply to anything governed by Regulation 181/2011.

When the 2013 Regulations were made, a full impact assessment of the effect that Regulation 181/2011 would have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector was prepared. A copy of the assessment was placed in the library of both Houses of Parliament and published on www.legislation.gov.uk alongside the Explanatory Memorandum for the 2013 Regulations. Copies of the assessment are available from the Buses and Taxis Division (PSV Licensing and Accessibility) at the Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 4DR. The Explanatory Memorandum for these Regulations has been published alongside this instrument on www.legislation.gov.uk.

Regulation 181/2011 can be viewed on the EUR-Lex website at www.eur-lex.europa.eu.