§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to alter the public service vehicle and goods vehicle licensing system to extend to parish councils the right to make representations about public service vehicle and goods vehicle operating centres; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeA commitment to amend the goods vehicle operator licence provisions to give a general right of environmental representation for parish councils was made in 1989. This followed a wide-ranging review of operators licensing and acknowledged the role of parish councils as representative of local communities.
A change to the primary legislation will be required.
Public service vehicle operating centres are not currently subject to environmental control through operator licensing. This is being reviewed at present.