32 and 33. Mrs. Slaterasked the Minister of Transport (1) what steps are taken to ensure that haulage vehicles are correctly licensed for the work which they do;
(2) if he will consider how best haulage vehicles should prominently display their licence numbers for the type of work for which they are licensed.
§ Mr. HayA goods vehicle used under a carrier's licence must have on its wind-screen 1038 an official disc showing clearly the type of licence and any major conditions attached thereto.
Our staff keeps a check on vehicles on the road to see that the work they are doing is within their licence.
Mrs. SlaterDoes the hon. Gentleman realise how widespread is the growing practice of hauliers of taking out a C-licence and doing A-licence work when the C-licence costs two-thirds less than the A-licence? Is he aware that, in the first place, these people are dodging taxation and, in the second place, are able to undercut the honest man in the prices that they charge for their work? Is he aware that it is terribly difficult for a policeman or anyone else to check these people if one has to wait until the vehicle stops before one can see the licence? [HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."] Would it not be better to have a requirement that some much bigger sign, marked A, B or C, should be placed on the vehicle so that anyone at a glance could see whether or not these men were avoiding taxation and the proper responsibilities that they have in case of accidents? [HON. MEMBERS: "Speech."] This is important to hon. Members opposite who might suffer damage. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, though these people may be covered by insurance against, personal injury, the insurance companies will not cover damage to property if these vehicles are not operating under the appropriate licence?
§ Mr. HayThe hon. Lady has raised a number of points and I hope that she will forgive me if I do not reply to them all. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"] Because it would take a great deal of time to answer fully. There is, of course, always a certain risk of abuse of any licensing system. We have over 100 staff engaged on the enforcement of this law and last year there were no fewer than 3,800 prosecutions for this type of thing. We keep a very close watch on it.
§ Mr. MellishSurely the figures prove that there is a great deal of abuse going on. Is it not a fact that the trade unions are very much concerned about this matter? Will the hon. Gentleman look seriously at the many points made by my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Mrs. Slater) which are very relevant?
§ Mr. HayThe fact that I said that I would not try to answer all the points that the hon. Lady made did not mean that I shall not look at all that she said.