Labour will merge VI and traffic areas
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EXCLUSIVE by Nicky Clarke • The Traffic Area Office network and Vehicle Inspectorate would be merged into one umbrella organisation to be responsible for road transport enforcement under a Labour Government.
If it comes to power at the next general election, Labour says the two organisations will be merged as part of plans to improve enforcement in a bid to wipe out cowboy operators "once and for all".
Speaking in London last week at an informal meeting of PSV operators, Labour's roads spokesman Graham Allen said that the two organisations would be reviewed, merged and given clearer remits.
"The cur rent Operator Licensing system needs improvement and more importantly needs full and adequate enforcement," he added.
A framework document detail ing the responsibilities of all those involved in enforcement would be produced in the first year of Labour rule. If appropriate those functions would then be reorganised under one umbrella.
Initially all employees of the new organisation would continue in their present roles, but after training they could adopt other enforcement functions. This would result in job losses.
The proposals do not necessarily mean more money for enforcement or significant increases in the 0-licence fee, but "fifty pence on the cost of an Operator's Licence would allow us to increase the vehicle inspection force considerably," Allen pointed out.
• The proposals received a mixed reaction: "Traffic Commissioners are in a position dealing with justice, so how can they be part of the same set up as those enforcing the law?" asks the Freight Transport Association.
"If there is more enforcement and it's spread across the wide spectrum of the transport industry, I'd never complain," says Jim Paton, managing director of P&O European Transport Services.
All organisations involved in enforcement will be consulted.