§ 13. Mr. Woodnuttasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will change the present heavy goods vehicle driver regulations arising from the Road Safety Act 1967, to enable the holder of a public service vehicle driving licence to drive heavy goods vehicles without a further driving test and to retain the regulation whereby a driver of a heavy goods vehicle has to pass a further test to obtain a licence to drive public service vehicles.
§ Mr. PeytonNo, Sir.
§ Mr. WoodnuttDoes my right hon. Friend mind telling me just how he comes to the conclusion that a man who is considered able and responsible enough to have a licence to drive a double-decker bus with 50 passengers is not considered capable and responsible enough to drive an equivalent-sized vehicle carrying anything from machine tools to scrap iron?
§ Mr. PeytonThere are some notable and conspicuous differences between the two types of vehicle, as well as their operations.
§ Mr. HuckfieldDoes the right hon. Gentleman recognise that there is a total difference between driving a busload of tourists around the Isle of Wight and driving a 32-ton gross antic. up the M1? Will he resist this suggestion, which does not have the blessing of the Transport and General Workers Union? [Laughter.] They are only the drivers. Will he also take powers against such private employment agencies as Manpower, which was encouraging the shift to which the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Woodnutt) referred and in so doing was encouraging all the pirates and cowboys that the heavy goods vehicle licence was supposed to prevent?
§ Mr. PeytonMy confidence in the answer that I gave to my hon. Friend is slightly diminished by the fact that the hon. Member appears to agree with me. The other point does not arise on this Question.