Decision on VI testing soon
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• A Government decision to privatise the Vehicle Inspectorate's commercial vehicle testing arm is expected within weeks, according to union sources.
This follows a sharp warning from the all-party Transport Select Committee which told Transport Secretary John MacGregor last month not to take a decision on the VI's future before "answering detailed questions". MacGregor is now timetabled to face the committee on 1 March and unions forecast a pro-privatisation announcement shortly afterwards.
The committee will ask MacGregor which of the stations are profit or loss making and what their turnovers are.
One MP says he is concerned that operators in rural areas will face higher charges after privatisation, particularly as 20% of the 91 test stations are loss making, he claims.
If MacGregor decides to go ahead with the test station selloff it is unlikely the required new legislation could be brought in before 1995 or 1996.
But the Civil and Public Servants Association believes that the road safety fears associated with an MOT-type commercial vehicle testing scheme could force the defeat of any Bill.