Bill tries amendment
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TRANSPORT Minister William Rodgers last week published the first of a promised series oi Transport Bills. The Bill consists of 20 clauses, divided in the main between amending public passenger transport legislation and detailing the financial restructuring of the National Freight Corporation. One clause alone relates specifically to lorries, and is wholly made up of a series of amendments to existing legislation (Road Traffic Act 1972 and Road Traffic Act (Foreign Vehicles) 1972).
The main effect of these amendments is to provide for increases in the distances over which lorries may be diverted to weighbridges and inspection centres — from one (at present) to five miles.
If the Bill becomes law, it will no longer be necessary to prove an overloaded vehicle an "immediate" risk to the public before being prohibited. And-the power to license car parks, at present held only by the Greater London Council, is to be extended to all other parts of Great Britain.
On the psv front, the Bill seeks: • The development of a coordinated and efficient passenger transport system by non-metropolitan county councils in England and Wales.
• The publication of county council transport plans every five years.
• Financial support for passenger services.
. • The release of non-profitmaking small passenger carrying vehicles and their drivers from psv licensing.
• The widening of the powers of the traffic commission to grant short term licences and take account of county transport plans.
The Bill also takes the first step to transfer Freightliners Ltd totally to British Rail.
The NFC's capital debt is to be reduced by £53.1 million to £100 million on July 1, 1978, and NCL can benefit between July 1, 1978, and Dcember 31, 1981, with grants not exceeding £15 million in total.
The Bill requires NFC to pay into the pension funds of NCL and Freightliners Ltd, but with the Secretary of State reimbursing the NFC.