HL Deb 15 March 1994 vol 553 cc5-6WA
Baroness Hamwee

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to their reply of 1st March 1994 regarding the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill (H.L. Deb. col. WA71), whether the meeting with representatives of the London Boroughs Transport Committee 24 hours before the printing of the Bill represents the normal consultation period for such matters, and what was the date of the equivalent meeting with the Freight Transport Association.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)

The Minister for Transport in London met representatives of the Freight Transport Association on 17 January. As I indicated in my answer of 1 March, full consultation on the detail of the changes proposed by Clause 24 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill will take place in due course.

Baroness Hamwee

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to their replies of 10th February 1994 and 1st March 1994 regarding the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill (H.L. Deb. cols. WA 135 and WA 78), (a) when were the informal discussions with the London Boroughs Transport Committee referred to in their reply of 10th February on which the Government's estimates of manpower reductions and cost savings were partly based; (b) what information was given by the London Boroughs Transport Committee in these discussions to support the Government's estimate that £400,000 or up to half of the London Boroughs Transport Scheme's running costs would be saved by removing the permit system., and (c) what consultations have been held with the Metropolitan police and the City of London police concerning the successful enforcement of the heavy lorry ban without a permit system and what is the police estimate of the additional resources that would. be required to maintain the present level of compliance.

Lord Mackay of Arbrecknish

The estimated savings were discussed when the Minister for Transport in London met representatives from the London Boroughs Transport Committee on 17 January. This, followed scrutiny of the London Boroughs Transport Scheme (LBTS) budget for 1994–95. Formal consultation with the police and other interested parties on changes proposed by Clause 24 of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill will take place in due course.