VI denies budget cut threat claims
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/ The Vehicle Inspectorate has denied that it is under pressure from a cash-strapped government to accept reduced funding for its enforcement effort.
Senior VI managers have refuted union allegations of attempts to reduce the prearranged budget for this financial year, but they have admitted the likelihood of reduced funds from next April as the Government applies increasing pressure to stay within its public spending limits.
One senior VI source says: "It's a matter of record that the Treasury will be looking for savings across the whole government-spending spectrum. Clearly I imagine the VI will be asked to contribute to those spending limits."
Pressure on overall spending comes as a funding shortfall for prosecution of illegal operators in the West Midlands and South Wales traffic areas has been made up. But in a letter written in August from VI head office to the traffic areas, the VI says: "There is no more money available at
all most groups are tight on funds this year and I doubt if many, if any, will be very keen to give up funds to help you, or any other group, out."
Contrary to an earlier denial that the VI was issuing instructions to drop prosecutions against operators pleading not guilty, the letter says: "You will need to consider very carefully indeed whether you can afford to prosecute or not. Clearly we should only prosecute where we are very confident of getting a positive result." The letter suggests that warning letters could suffice instead of prosecutions.
Speaking on BBC2's Public Eye last week, Roads and Traffic Minister Kenneth Carlisle said he was "satisfied" with the level of enforcement and added the greatest deterrent against operators was the threat of losing their 0-licences.