Projecting Loads Law Soon
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MMinistry of Transport hope to e regulations dealing with mobile cranes and vehicles with projecting loads made some time next month. Announcing this in the Commons last week, Mr. John Hay, the Parliamentary Secretary, said that the department had made a great deal of progress in clearing these regulations with those who, under Statute, had to be consulted. He hoped to clear up one outstanding legal difficulty.
Precise information about accidents involving vehicles of this kind was not available, he told Lt.-Col. J. K. Cordeaux (Cons., Nottingham Central), but he d:d know of three accidents involving mobile cranes and buses since last January.
Col. Cordeaux reminded Mr. Hay that exactly a year ago, when the matter was raised, he had said that the Minister was on the point of issuing regulations to deal with these vehicles. Was it not time he told road hauliers and other interested parties that they could no longer delay the enforcement of these essential safety regulations?
He was "personally, painfully" aware of the statement he had made, observed Mr. Hay.
Not More than Six Pints
THE Government have taken action against the consumption of alcholic drinks on public service vehicles in Scotland. Lord Craigton, Minister of State for Scotland, successfully introduced in the Upper House an amendment to the Licensing (Scotland) Bill, which restricts . the carrying of drinks in crates on contract buses.
He said that the new clause made it an offence for a bus operator to carry crates or bulk liquid containers carrying excisable liquor, and it was to be an 'offence for any person to procure or attempt to procure the carriage of liquor in such containers on a bus.
The penalty for the holder of a p.s.v. licence, found guilty of an offence, would be a fine of up to £25 for a first conviction and a fine not exceeding £50 for later convictions. Other offenders would face a maximum fine of £10.
"Containers" meant those holding more than six pints, explained Lord Craigton. This minimum had been chosen because there was a seven-pint container commonly used for beer.
The amendment had been revised to include in the definition racks, fitted in the buses themselves, to hold bottles. If that had not been done it would have been possible for the bus operator to evade the clause as originally drafted.
FAULTY SILENCERS
I N 1960—the latest period for which
figures were available—there were 5,181 prosecutions in England and Wales for offences against the regulation relating to the fitting and maintenance of silencers, said Mr. David Renton, Minister of State. Home Office.