Dip admits cutting examiners' allowances
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THE Department of Transport has finally admitted that it has made cuts in traffic examiners' travel and subsistence allowances, despite denying the fact when CM first reported it (June 20).
The cuts — claimed to be as high as 22 per cent — have been in force since April 1, and examiners now say enforcement levels on British roads are being seriously threatened.
Although it now admits cuts have been imposed, the DTp is still refusing to be drawn on the extent of them — or on their likely effects.
The union to which 80 per cent of Britain's 235 or so traffic examiners belong, the Society of Civil and Public Servants, has been so concerned about the allocation cuts that it has just conducted a survey among the examiners on the issue.
Results were just beginning
to be gathered, branch secretary of the traffic examiners' branch Ralph Beaumont told CM this week.
if the problems reported are as bad as expected the society will be seeking a meeting with Transport Minister Lynda Chalker to ask for more money and staff.. Beaumont said.
Beaumont said that he had been given the 22 per cent cut figure by "reliable sources", and had every reason to believe it. It is equivalent to a £195,000 cut in travel and subsistence allocation nationally.
At the same time as the April 1 cut, increased rates given to examiners when they use their own cars had made the allowances situation even tighter, he said.
CM has also heard other reports that there is due to be another three per cent cut in travel and subsistence allocation this month.
As a result of the cuts, traffic examiners are having to spend "a disproportionate amount of time in the office", Beaumont said.
He added: "A lot of investigative and routine work just isn't being done. if anyone is determined to flout the law I'm sure they could do it — especially if they are tucked away from the traffic examiners' office."
A I )epartment of Transport spokesman admitted that there had been sonic form of reduction since April in the allocation of travel and subsistence payments.
He said that while some traffic areas would be more affected than others — because some have far more to do — "the aim of the exercise is to have better housekeeping than we have".
"We consider that the allocation of funds is perfectly adequate to do the job that is supposed to be done," the spokesman said.
But he said that the 13Tp would be closely monitoring the enforcement situation and drawing its conclusions from the Licensing Authorities reports, which are due out in November.