Thesiger Report : Ministry Accept Many Recommendations
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THE Ministry of Transport have circulated their preliminary views on the recommendations of the Thesiger Committee to the passenger transport operators' associations. They do not include recommendations on privateparty work.' as these are being dealt with separately, nor on Points which are included in the Transport Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill.
The first three parts of the' memorandum deal with recommendations that call for legislation, for amendment of regulations and those that require neither legislation nor amendment of regulations. The, fourth part deals with the committee's recommendations on trams and trolleybuses, also with certain additional proposals for such vehicles which the department has under consideration at the moment and on which the views of the associations are requested.
Renewals not. Necessary.
The Ministry accept the recommendation that backing. renewals. should not, be necessary on renewals, without modification, of licences for excursions and tours. On the question of appeals against a Licensing Authority's refusal to vary the conditions of a licence, the committee recommended. that the licence holder, or any person with the right to make representation, should have a right of appeal corresponding to that applicable for licence applications.
" It is arguable," say the Ministry, "whether the right to appeal should not he more, restricted than the committee suggests," and go on to suggest that it should be confined to the licchce holder. Their inclination is, however, to follow the committee.
Authorities' Discretion They agree that Licensing Authorities should have discretion whether or not to admit, and to take into consideration, representations from bodies or persons not named in Section 72 (3) of the 1930 Act.
Licensing Authorities should have the power to require that advance provision of information regarding major fare changes by all parties. to the case be made available to the other parties. In matters concerning more than one u-ea, the committee recommended that he Licensing Authorities should be )ermitted to hold joint sittings. The Winistry have accepted this.
Pointing out that a breach of Section 9 of the 1930 Act is an offence in tself, the Ministry do not favour the aclusion of this (which deals with rivers' hours) as a standard condition f a licence.
Court decisions in connection with ie Road and Rail Traffic Act, 11933, Lys the memorandum, have shown the 'Inger of attaching statutory requite ments as conditions to licences, a practice which can have unforeseeable legal consequences. Their view is that the matter should be left as it is.
The Ministry are prepared to consider an extension of the validity of the certificate of fitness from five to seven years. "Consent" procedure for municipal operators should be abolished.
On the committee's recommendation that Section 93 of the 1930 Act should be modified to.. require contract-carriage operators to observe the appropriate rate of wages for contract work in the district, the Ministry ppomise to examine the question further when they know the views of the parties concerned.
Operators' Views Wanted In view of the constant change in vehicles from one route to another, the Ministry would like to have operators' views. on the practicability of the proposal to give notice. of application: for variations of an existing service, in vehicles, operating on the route concerned:
The proposal that 14: days only should be allowed for representations of applications for licences is accepted by the Ministry..
On the suggestion that a bulletin of selected appeal decisions. be. published periodically, the Ministry. point out that much information about appeal decisions is already given in the trade Press, and say that it is by no means certain that. the. value of the proposal would justify the considerable additional work involved.
No Sufficient Reason The Ministry see:no sufficient reason for incurring the trouble and expense of employing an advisory or consultative committee in place of a single inspector to hear and report on appeals.
Whilst they accept the suggestion that trolleabus; drivers should. be subject. to the same licensing, requirements as motorbus drivers, they are not convinced of the need to extend it also to tram drivers:.
Proposing t h at the committee's recommendation t ha t the existing powers of the Minister to make. regulations in respect of the conduct of motorbus drivers, conductors and passengers. should be: extended to cover trolleybuses and. trams, they suggest that. they could, with advantage, be extended. also to deal with. intending passengers. and so cover the control. of persons; waiting. at bus and tram stops.
Lost property on trolleybuses. and trams: should also come within.. the Minister's, powers The erection of a £16,676 bus station has been approved by Ripley Urban District Council.