WHEREAS—

(1) Under the Transport Acts 1968 and 1985 it is the general duty of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (otherwise known as Centro and hereinafter called “the Executive”) to secure the provision of public passenger transport services for meeting public transport requirements of their area in accordance with general policies formulated by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority:

(2) By the Midland Metro Act 1989 the Executive were authorised to construct works forming the first stage in the development of a light rail rapid transit network in the West Midlands area and, by the Midland Metro Bill deposited in the Session of Parliament 1989/90 (hereinafter called “the No. 1 Act of 1992”), provision is proposed for the construction of additional works forming the second and third stages of that network in furtherance of that object:

(3) It is expedient that the Executive should be empowered to construct the additional works authorised by this Act for the extension of that network by the provision of additional light rail rapid transit routes in Wolverhampton and Dudley and the further works authorised by this Act in Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell and Wolverhampton in substitution for works authorised by the No. 1 Act of 1992:

(4) It is expedient that the other powers of this Act, including powers for the compulsory acquisition of land or rights in land for the purposes of the said works and other lands in Birmingham and Walsall, should be conferred upon the Executive and that the other provisions in this Act should be enacted:

(5) The purposes of this Act cannot be effected without the authority of Parliament:

(6) In relation to the promotion of the Bill for this Act the requirements of section 10(1)(xxix) of the [1968 c. 73.] Transport Act 1968 have been observed:

(7) Plans and sections showing the lines or situations and levels of the works to be constructed under the powers of this Act and plans of the lands authorised to be acquired or used by this Act, and a book of reference to such plans containing the names of the owners and lessees, or reputed owners and lessees, and the occupiers of the said lands, were duly deposited in the office of the Clerk of the Parliaments and in the Private Bill Office of the House of Commons and with the proper officers of the District Councils of the Metropolitan Boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton and the City of Birmingham, which plans, sections and book of reference are respectively referred to in this Act as “the deposited plans”, “the deposited sections” and “the deposited book of reference”:

May it therefore please your Majesty that it may be enacted, and be it enacted, by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—