Private eye on Lest station sales
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OF THE industry's biggest ; of contention with the rnment — the planned sale avy goods vehicle test stato the private sector — is investigated by the House ,mmons transport commit
committee, chaired by al Democrat transport asman Tom Bradley, has led on its own initiative to uct a short inquiry in the tier and plans to have a reready before the Summer ss.
ganisations and individuals been given until June 5 to nit evidence on the Departof Transport's plans both lorry and public service cle testing, and it is antici d that several interested ips will give oral evidence. hula the committee is free to stigate any relevant matters ing to transport, and has not e under any pressure from )Tp to look into the question of test stations, this particular inquiry is seen as significant to many in the industry.
The sale of test stations to the private sector, part of Transport Secretary Norman Fowler's plans to cut DTp staff by 17.7 per cent between 1980 and 1983, has met with uniform disapproval from most sectors of road transport, and is thought also to be frowned on by many in Marsham Street.
It drew strong words from the major trade associations last year, with the Freight Transport Association describing the move as "ill-conceived", and the Road Haulage Association accusing the Government of having misplaced faith in free enterprise.
Even the often-muted Institute of Road Transport Engineers was provoked into outspoken comment.
The FTA confirmed to CM that it will be submitting evidence to the Commons committee, and an RHA spokesman said he expected the RHA to reaffirm the message which it has been directing at the DTp for some months.
While details are still under wraps, it is clear that the two major trade associations, in cooperation with the National Freight Company, have devised • a joint approach to the DTp on the future of vehicle testing. Last year, the FTA suggested that the Government's aim of privatisation could be satisfied by transferring stations to a joint holding company in which private shares could be sold.