Peers anxious over testing station
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OVERNMENT moves to ensure it can regain control of heavy Dods and passenger service vehicles' testing stations if the lease is roken has caused anxiety among peers.
Junior Minister Lord Bellwin romised to have a rethink but e warned that the Government ould not be without the testing stations for any lengthy period.
The tougher conditions were introduced after it was pointed out that if, for example, spare parts were sold on the site of a testing station, the Government would not be able to reclaim possession if the lease was broken.
He acknowledged that it was most unlikely that the new powers would be needed if Lloyd's Register of Shipping took over responsibility for the sites. But, he added, "In an area. so important as safety, nothing should be left to chance." Opposition spokesman Lord Mishcon said the new powers could mean that the Government might be able to regain possession of a site without having to pay compensation if, for instance, the Post Office was late in delivering the rent.
The fact that there would be no relief at all against a breach of covenant was not thought equitable in normal landlord/tenant relations.
Lord Bellwin acknowledged that the Government would not want to breach the normal landlord rules. "This is a special situation we are catering for. We are anxious to ensure that timeconsuming procedures laid down under the 1954 Act should not mean that specialised test facilities would be unavailable and continued provision of testing services could be difficult."