COMMENT
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IS ANYBODY LISTENING?
Judging by the way he's lampooned by American TV satirists, maverick Texan politician Ross Peras method of dealing with interviewers who don't get his point is to snap:"You're not listening!" He might well be talking to certain officials in Her Majesty's Government. Transport Minister Steven Norris certainly isn't listening to anybody who wants to see a proper registration scheme for LGV instructors. Following an approach by Commercial Motor as part of our campaign to raise LGV Driving School standards, MPs David Chidgey and David Porter have pressed Norris to reveal the DOT's plans for raising instructor standards (see news story, page 12). His response was to confirm that the Government has "...no plans to introduce a statutory register of goods vehicle instructors". But he does say that he's received a number of letters on the subject. When we kicked off our campaign in September we wrote to Norris's boss, Transport Secretary Brian Mawhinney, on the same subject. Mawhinney responded quickly, referring the letter to the Chief Executive of the Driving Standards Agency and asking him to reply "directly on my behalf". Since then we've heard nothing. Meanwhile Norris reports that ".„industry bodies are, however, considering a voluntary scheme with the DSA...offering a standards assurance service on a cost recovery basis". That smacks of self-regulation. And when it comes to maintaining, let alone improving standards, we have to question if road hauliers are capable of keeping their own house in order. We have no idea why the DOT is dragging its heels over a statutory LGV instructor registration scheme; but they can't say they haven't been told.
ne Minister who appears to be half-listening is Kenneth Clarke. Although the 3.1p/lit rise in diesel fuel tax will clearly add to the already crippling fiscal burden falling on truck operators, VED rates have mercifully been pegged. Reductions in low-pay National Insurance contributions will also reduce the burden on employers. But cuts to the trunk road spending programme will only prolong the agony of congestion which is already costing the industry millions of pounds. There's still no joy on capital allowances and the proposed new waste tax will hit landfill site operators. The Chancellor may have been listening—but only with one ear.