Privatisation rapped
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THE EXISTING hgv testing system should be retained, according to the House of Commons all-party select committee on transport which says that the Government's case for privatising the testing of lorries and buses is, at best, not yet proven. MIKE RUTHERFORD reports.
Committee chairman Tom Bradley (Social Democrat, Leicester East) said the main concern must be with the maintenance of safety standards and this is likely to be intensified with the introduction of heavier lorries, said Mr Bradley.
"Moreover, indications are that the Government's proposals will not lead to any real reduction in public sector costs, and may well result in an increase in the costs incurred by Fleet operators," he said.
Even when judged on the rela:ively less important criterion of aublic and private costs, the -Government's proposals do not seem to have stood up to the committee's scrutiny. I hope :herefore that this particular Tiove towards privatisation will ae abandoned," he said.
The report says that the Government has not yet justified its contention that private operators (still to be identified) would carry out annual testing better than the current Department of Transport stations.
"Until the Department brings 'orward evidence to substantiate ts contentions, we believe that he existing system of hgv :esting stations should be retained," says the report.
Improved services, such as more flexible working hours, should be introduced at hgv testing stations.
But if Government is still determined to go ahead with its proposals, the operators' associations should be given a central role in the selection of the company (or companies) which takes over the testing function, and in the monitoring of the system, it says. It would be preferable, says the committee, to transfer the testing system to a single private sector organisation, such as Lloyd's Register, rather than splitting it into a number of chains. Junior Transport secretary Kenneth Clarke is exploring _ the possibility of this option and has already had discussions with Lloyd's Register.
The Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association say ,that the report is broadly in line with their own thinking. They have an opert mind about Lloyd's Register,