Persons engaged in road passenger transport before 1st January 1978
8(1)Paragraphs 9 and 10 below apply only to persons applying for, and to holders of, standard licences.
(2)For the purposes of those paragraphs, an individual or company was authorised to engage in the occupation of road passenger transport operator at any time if, and only if, at that time—
(a)he was the holder, or one of the joint holders, of a public service vehicle licence under section 127 of the [1960 c. 16.] Road Traffic Act 1960, or the corresponding provision of the law of Northern Ireland, relating to a vehicle adapted to carry more than eight passengers; or
(b)he was by virtue of a permit under Regulation 20 of the [S.I. 1952/900.] Public Service Vehicles (Licences and Certificates) Regulations 1952, or the corresponding provision of the law of Northern Ireland, deemed to be the holder or one of the joint holders of such a licence ; or
(c)he was so authorised under the law of another member State; or
(d)he was the transport manager of a person within paragraph (a), (b) or (c).
9(1)An individual or company authorised to engage in the occupation of road passenger transport operator at any time before 1st January 1978 shall be deemed until the contrary is proved to satisfy the requirements to be of good repute and appropriate financial standing and, if so authorised before 1st January 1975, also to satisfy the requirement as to professional competence.
(2)An applicant for a standard licence, or for the variation of such a licence, shall not be obliged to furnish to the traffic commissioners in support of his application information relating to a requirement which is deemed to be satisfied by virtue of sub-paragraph (1) above unless it appears to the commissioners that there are grounds for thinking that the requirement is not in fact satisfied.
10For the purpose of Part II of this Act, an individual shall be regarded as professionally competent if he was authorised to engage in the occupation of road passenger transport operator before 1st January 1978 and was so authorised—
(a)for a period of, or for periods amounting in the aggregate to, two years during the period 1st January 1975 to 31st December 1979; or
(b)at any time in the period 1st January 1970 to 31st December 1974.