Minister is vague on future of VOSA
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Transport minister Mike Penning has delivered an ambiguous answer to an MP's question about the future of VOSA, raising the spectre of privatisation.
Bristol East Labour MP Kerry McCarthy asked the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport "if he will discuss the future of VOSA with the relevant trade unions before any decision on the agency's future is taken; and whether he (a) has commissioned and (b) intends to commission any consultancy advice on the future of VOSA prior to the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR)".
In response, Penning said: As is normal practice. discussions will be held with the relevant trade unions before any decisions are taken on the future of VOSA. No consultancy advice has been commissioned and there are no plans to commission any consultancy advice on VOSA prior to the CSR."
McCarthy tells CM: "The government isaxingand privatising virtually everything, so I wanted to get assurances from them that VOSA wasn't in their sights. They're ideologically fixated on dismantling the public sector, and seem in rather a hurry to do so," Kevin Warden, secretary of the VOSA Trade 1..inion Side, says VOSA managers have been calculating the damage to the agency if the £20m budget it receives direct from the Department for Transport (WY) is cut by up to £4m.
"There's pressure about what money there will be for enforcement and how it will be spent." he adds. "I share Kerry's concerns, To privatise enforcement is too difficult a pill to swallow. but it's early days. Everyone is fearful of the CSR."
Freight Transport Association MD of policy and communication James 1 lookham says: "Only public servants with warrant cards and VOSA staff in uniform can stop trucks and issue P09s. They should not contemplate third parties providing that service."
A VOSA spokesman says 10% of its funding comes from the DIV and adds: "All government departments are looking at how they can reduce costs as part of the spending review in the autumn; VOSA is no exception to this."