Ceamefic Paktiatitad
Page 46
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A friend showed me a copy of the Foster Report on Operators' Licensing, but I suggest that all transport offices should find it worthwhile spending E4 on their own one. That way we shall get a reaction. I look forward to reading the in-depth examination in CM, as,1 realise you can't write the last word at the drop of a hat, minutes before your publication date.
I would like to set te correspondence ball rolling.
The committee, among other things, was asked "to make recommendations for any changes in the system (0licensing) on its practical application which would improve the quality and efficiency of the road freight industry-.
That.sounds good, but where does the committee do this? In the summary of their objectives, they say: "We have concluded that the purpose of operators' licensing should be to promote road safety, to help protect the environment from heavy goods vehicles and prevent undue damage to the roads."
We would like roads maintained so that they don't cause undue damage to our lorries. In the United States, the Supreme Court could force the Government to keep up the roads, because we pay enough in taxes many times over to do this.
Secondly, a Congressional CoMmittee could interview members of the Foster Committee and make them go back and also consider things for the ben efit of the road freight industry as per their terms of reference.
I daresay that one or two MPs, if there is anyone left with the integrity and common sense of George Brown, will raise this in Parliament. But MPs will soon pass on to other things and take no action. It won't be the same as a probe in America. The Mother of Parliaments is too cosmetic and too often lacks the initiative to use its teeth.
SAM WOOD, Holloway, London.