Breaches of Confidence
Page 35
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0 N Many occasions we have advised hauliers to attach to their applications for Class A and B licences evidence from users or wouldbe users of their services, indicating the value of such services, and showing why those traders prefer to utilize road vehicles for the collection and delivery of their goods. In some instances, the Traffic Commissioners themselves have expressed their approval of this procedure, as it undoubtedly assists them in forming a well-balanced opinion as to the merits of each case.
Such evidence should, of course, be treated by them in the strictest confidence, and many operators have already submitted private matters concerning their customers, relying upon the integrity of the Commissioners in this respect.
It has been brought to or notice, however, that leakage of such confidential information is occurring. Copies of letters which have been attached to applications for licences are coming into the possession of the railway companies, which are then approaching the customers in question and complaining bitterly against their support of road transport, thus placing the customers in an in vidious position, because, in some cases, the carriage of their goods may be divided between rail and road, according to the needs of the various classes handled.
If the Traffic Commissioners are to retain the confidence of operators and of the public, they must take immediate steps to prevent any recurrence of such misuse of private information submitted to them, the sources of which will automatically dry up if those concerned requiring transport continue to be sought out and Crossexamined in the manner to which we have referred.
Information given at a public inquiry is on quite a different basis. Each party concerned knows that anything stated may be taken advantage of by the others, and he is prepared to accept the risk, but private documentary evidence should be considered as something in the nature of a trade secret.
We call for a public assurance from the Traffic Commissioners that, in future, they will exercise a stricter supervision, so that information of value to rival transport interests will no longer be available to the latter.