Under one roof by David Lowe, minstTA
Page 54
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BENEFITS for both operators and drivers are promised when a more efficient system for the central issue of driver and vehicle licenCes is in full operation. Transfer of driving licences to the central issuing facility is expected to be complete by the end of 1976 and of vehicle licences by the end of 1975, but from the Spring of 1973 a start will be made in transferring the task of issuing licences from the 180 local authorities to the Driving and Vehicle Licensing Centre—now being built at Morriston, SwanEea, and illustrated above.
Hgv drivers' licensing and operators' licensing are not included in the transfer; these will remain the responsibility of the area Licensing Authorities.
Eighty local offices will be retained to deal with difficulties arising from the classifications of new vehicles.
Responsibility for the driver and vehicle excise licensing systems was transferred to the Secretary of State for the Environment with effect from April 1 this year by the Vehicle and Driving Licences Act 1969 and subsequent amendment orders. Since April 1 and until the transfer of both functions is complete, local authorities are continuing to issue licences in the normal way.
The new Centre is being built at a cost of 18+m on the outskirts of Swansea. This area was chosen for no other reason than the availability of 25 acres of suitable land and the prospects of an adequate supply of staff.
Two or possibly three ICL 470 computers and ancillary equipment worth some £6m will be used at the Centre; the first was accepted in April and is installed in the only part of the Centre at present completed.
Mr E. S. Ainley, "Head of central licensing directorate," explained details of the effect of the changes and the reasons behind the planning of this new Centre. One of the principal advantages will be that the police, enforcement staff and any other legitimate inquirer can far more easily and quickly obtain details of any driver or vehicle. While seemingly offering advantages to those who—in the drivers' or operators' eyes—appear to need them least, Mr Ainley said that there are many genuine inquiries from people about drivers and owners of vehicles which are involved in accidents and the like.
All by post
All licensing will be dealt with by post and applications for both driving and vehicle licences will become simpler. Reminders will be issued in the form of pre-printed applications giving names, addresses and details from the previous application. If there have been no alterations either in the driver's address or name, or in the case of vehicles If there has been no change in description, then only a signature will be needed on the form and a cheque, insurance certificate and test certificate, as appropriate, to be sent to Morriston. Reminders will be sent out two weeks before licences expire so that new ones will be available on the first day of the new period and the 14-day "grace" period will be abolished.
The result of the computer processing will eventually mean a new type of driving licence and vehicle registration book. These will be single-sheet documents printed out by the computer but containing the same information as before. Changes of address or description of vehicle and so on will entail the issue of a new document.
When the transfers of all the systems to the Centre have been completed some further changes are planned to benefit the vehicle operator. Vehicle licensing will be introduced on a date-to-date basis instead of the present month-to-month system and refunds will also apply from date-to-datc but it will be necessary to retain one-month minimum period for refunds.
Mr Ainley also told me that there is proposal for a new concept of continuou liability for vehicle licensing. At present, if vehicle is not used it is not taxed and thi can lead to licence evasion. Controlling thi is difficult and is dependent on spottin vehicles on the road; it's a difficult task an although many offenders are caught man: more still escape.
Under the proposed system if a vehicle i not in use or the licence is not renewed th Centre will have to be notified of the reaso so that a record is kept and all vehicles ar accounted for. This will provide a mor efficient way of catching tax dodgers.
Temporary licences An extension of this proposal will be tc introduce a system enabling authorize( vehicle dealers to hold stocks of temporar3 licences so that if a vehicle is sold out o: licensing hours the dealer will be able to sel a temporary licence with the vehicle anc send the papers to the Morriston Centre sc that a full licence can be issued later.
A further advantage of the centralize( system from the police and road safet3 points of view is that drivers who an disqualified will no longer be able, by mean! of a false application, to get a licence fron another authority. All drivers will 13( accounted for at the Centre.
The Centre is expected eventually t( employ some 6000 staff compared with thi 5500 employed by local authorities on thi: work. However, the increase is necessary Mr Ainley told me, because of the rate a which licence applications are increasim and, he added: "A far more efficient servic( will be offered." It has been estimated tha the Centre will handle about 10 tons, o 400,000 items, of mail every day.