HC Deb 24 March 1970 vol 798 cc1189-91
11. Mr. Montgomery

asked the Minister of Transport what is the percentage increase in the cost of the operators' licence when compared with the previous carriers' licence.

Mr. Murray

As the Answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Montgomery

Is the Minister aware that the charge for the operators' licence is exorbitant? How does he reconcile that with the assurances given that no more revenue would be required to run the new system compared with the old?

Mr. Murray

I assume that the hon. Gentleman is talking about assurances given by previous Ministers.

Mr. Montgomery

The same Administration.

Mr. Murray

What was said was that the cost of administering the new licence system would be no higher than the cost of the present one. Fees for carriers' licences were last revised in 1957. Costs have increased considerably since then, and the enforcement effort has more than doubled.

Following is the information:

Annual rate of fee per vehicle*
Class of carriers' licence Carriers' licence 1957—Feb., 1970 Carriers' licence† from March, 1970 Operators' licence from March 1970 Per cent. increase (2)-(4)
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
£ s. s. £
A … … 2 0 10 4 100
B … … 2 10 10 4 60
C … … 6 4 4 1,233
*Fees cover the cost of administration only.
† Carriers licensing is being phased out for light goods vehicles. After 1st December, 1970 it will apply only to vehicles over 16 tons gross weight.

14. Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he has taken to ensure that applicants for a seven-year operators' licence can pay the annual fee as it arises.

Mr. Murray

None, Sir. An applicant can ask for a shorter period if he wishes.

Mr. Mills

This is very expensive; a large sum of money is involved. There is enough of a burden at present on many of these small business people, so will the Minister take steps to publicise this tar more?

Mr. Murray

It is a matter for the discretion of the licensing authority if an applicant asks for a shorter period. The fee represents only a small percentage of total vehicle operating costs.

Mr. Leslie Huckfield

Does my hon. Friend agree that many of the difficulties with the execution of the policy on operators' licences have been caused by the operators themselves, who have failed to apply for a licence by the appointed day?

Mr. Murray

That may well be the case. The Department has done as much as possible to publicise all aspects of the new operators' licences.

Mr. Michael Heseltine

Would not the Minister agree that it is totally misleading to suggest that it was the operators' fault, since full details of the system were not announced until two weeks before the Order was brought before the House, and that was the Government's total responsibility?

Mr. Leslie Huckfield

Rubbish.

Mr. Murray

No, Sir. The operators have known for a very long time—since before the 1968 Act—what would be necessary. I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman's comment.