Interpretation
17.—(1) In this Chapter—
“the 1998 Act” means the Competition Act 1998(1),
“the Chapter 1 prohibition” means the prohibition imposed by section 2(1) of the 1998 Act (agreements etc. preventing, restricting or distorting competition),
“a qualifying agreement” is an agreement between bus undertakings only,
“a qualifying decision” is so much of any decision by an association of undertakings as relates to the operation of local services,
“a qualifying practice” is a concerted practice by bus undertakings only.
(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)—
(a)a “bus undertaking” is an undertaking which is the operator of a local service,
(b)the involvement of a local transport authority which is not a bus undertaking is to be disregarded,
(c)a partnership scheme is not to be regarded as a qualifying agreement, qualifying decision or qualifying practice.
(3) A provision of this Chapter which is expressed to apply to, or in relation to, a qualifying agreement is to be read as applying equally to, or in relation to, a qualifying decision or a qualifying practice (but with any necessary modifications).
(4) A reference in this Chapter to the area of an authority is a reference to the area of a local transport authority in whose area the agreement is, or is to be, implemented.
(5) For the purposes of this Chapter the “bus improvement objectives” are—
(a)securing improvements in the quality of vehicles or facilities used for or in connection with the provision of local services,
(b)securing other improvements in local services of benefit to users of local services, and
(c)reducing or limiting traffic congestion, noise or air pollution.