§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what guidance is given to members of the public in the draft traffic area office codes of practice for complaining about(a) illegally parked vehicles and (b) unsuitable vehicle operating centres;
(2) if he will list the advice given in the draft traffic area office codes of practice to members of the public on complaining about the operation of local bus services;
(3) if he will list how many paragraphs of information in the draft codes of practice, issued by the traffic area offices, are applicable to members of the public who are not goods or public service vehicle operators who wish to complain about the holder of an operator's licence;
(4) if he will list the advice given to members of the public about making complaints about unlicensed vehicle operators, in the draft traffic area office codes of practice.
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§ Mr. KeyThe code of practice for the traffic area offices sets out the standards of service which TAOs aim to meet in administering the operator licensing local bus registration systems. It indicates where complaints can be made if these service standards are not met. The code is not concerned with the actions of operators. Complaints about the illegal operation of heavy goods vehicles or the unsuitability of HGV operating centres can be addressed to the local traffic commissioner.
Complaints about local bus services should normally be made to the operator in the first instance. The Confederation of Passenger Transport United Kingdom, formerly the Bus and Coach Council, with our support, has issued a quality code for operators of local bus services, under which operators are encouraged to direct complaints to the relevant person, which would include, where appropriate, the traffic commissioner.