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Lord Attlee, who survived the culling In the House of

16th December 1999
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Lords, would like impounding to become a priority. And it doesn't necessarily target old vehicles, he maintains.

• If you want to sound off about a road transport issue write to features. editor Patric Gunnane or fax your views (up to 600 words) to kicky Clarke on 0181 652 8912.

66 'Action Man' Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has

now at last been allowed to introduce his transport bill, although it doesn't do much for the industry apart from introduce stealth taxes that are supposed to reduce congestion.

The bill is more than half an inch thick and runs to 231clauses and 257 pages and might well make a good doorstop.

I passionately believe we need to minimise bureaucratic regulation and maximise the scope for innovation. But when rogue operators demonstrate they cannot or will not operate to the required standard, they must be eliminated from the industry for the sake of the industry and the safety of the general public. If the authorities fail to take tough action, then many decent operators will find themselves having to sail close to the wind just to be able to compete in the market. John Prescott spent so much time devising unworkable schemes for London Underground that he never found the time to provide for impounding illegally operated goods vehicles. Readers will recall that I introduced an impounding bill during the last session of Parliament but it was not given Government time and therefore it died. We shall have to see whether he gets a Labour back-bencher to insert the necessary impounding clauses into the bill or leaves me to do it in the Lords.

There is some concern that impounding is designed to attack small operators using older equipment. It is not. There is no reason why older vehicles cannot be maintained properly—I well remember enjoying having a 20-year-old AEC Mammoth pass plating and testing when two-year-old Scanias and Volvos were failing miserably!

We all know that the Government's policy of high fuel prices makes matters worse and is a failure because our European partners are not following suit. instead, their operators are coming over here using cheap fuel and taking our business away.

twill bet you that the Government will not reverse this situation and will claim that there is over capacity in the industry. I just believe there is just too much competition, some of which is illegal.

The good news is that I survived the reform of the House of Lords and because the bill is so wide-ranging we can introduce and debate just about any issue related to transport. You will have

many ideas for improvement and loan put your ideas into action.

You can e-mail me at: attleej@parliament.uk and you should get a reply. Alternatively, write to me, The Earl Attlee, House of Lords, London SW1A OPW. I do not expect to agree with all su estions but I will take a balanced view and will also listen to environmental and road safety groups.

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Organisations: House of Lords

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