Tests: fee up 12pc?
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ANOTHER 12 per cent increase in heavy goods vehicle test fees is looming this summer, before the test stations are sold to Lloyd's Register of Shipping, reports ALAN MILLAR.
The Department of Transport is consulting with the operators' representatives on the Vehicle Operators' Advisory Panel set up to monitor the administration of the testing system about a 12 per cent rise, which would take test fees to a level satisfactory to Lloyd's.
This increase comes after a 27 per cent increase in fees from December last year, and a 10 per cent increase 13 months before that, and has drawn a predictably hostile response from operators' associations.
Former Road Haulage Association national chairman Ken Rogers, who is VOAP chairman, has written to the Department of Transport on behalf of the RHA, the Freight Transport Association and the Bus and Coach Council, saying the proposed increase in unjustified.
He has accused the DTp of proposing "excessive" salary awards, borrowing requirements, and administrative costs in figures provided to the VOAP, and went on to warn that the industry's wafer thin support for privatising the test stations could be taken beyond its limit of tolerance.
According to Mr Rogers, the industry has confidence in the plans to transfer the 91 stations to Lloyd's, provided the price is right, but went on: "This confidence would be quickly undermined if operators felt that they were not getting a fair financial deal."
The Lloyd's proposal preserves the integrity of the test station network, DTp Permanent Secretary Peter Lazarus assured the House of Commons transport committee last week when he gave evidence on the Department's spending plans for the current financial year.
He also assured Conservative MP Sir David Price, who conducted a short inquiry into the test station sale proposed in 1981, that the Lloyd's deal is still on, although he did not give any date for its likely implementation.
Lloyd's Register is having detailed discussions with trade unions, and the Order designating the Lloyd's Register Vehicle Testing Authority will be made once these are concluded satisfactorily.
At present, Transport Secretary David Howell is proposing the compensation of staff for detriment, although Mr Lazarus agreed that the unions were looking for a more lucrative deal.