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P TRANSPORT SELECT COMMITTEE
Page 9
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MP restates opposition to closures
TH1 E CHAIRMAN OF the House bf Commons Transport Select Committee has attempted to reassure hauliers by restating her opposition to wide-scale Privatisation of VOSA's network oi testing stations.
Louise Ellman MP told CM at a transport workshop in Liverpool organised by compliance specialists Tachograph Analysis Consultants, that she could not say how many of the organisation's test facilities should be privatised or closed.
"We don't feel as a committee that we have the technical knowledge to make that judgement," she adds. Ellman reiterates the committee's view, stated in its report The enforcement activities of VOSA, which was published in July, that "any move towards complete privatisation of test sites would disproportionately affect smaller operators, which have fewer resources". She says: "There is a section [in the report] where we say we are very supportive of people who are worried about the impact of increasing privatisation. We have concerns about the issue of rising prices and accessibility."
The committee believes VOSA must retain a "significant network of testing stations", but that the use of private-sector sites could be helpful in cutting costs and ensuring operators receive a flexible service.
Ellman continues: "Our report was published in mid-July and the government has to give its response within two months, so we're expecting it any time now."