§ Mr. Haselhurstasked the Minister of Transport when he expects to implement revised provisions regarding certificates of professional competence for transport operators; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Haselhurstasked the Minister of Transport how many small transport operators now face revocation of their operators' licences following the introduction of professional competence provisions affecting operators' licensing; and if he is prepared to extend the interim qualifying period which expired on 31 December.
§ Mr. FowlerThe termination of interim arrangements concerning professional competence on 31 December 1979 was a specific requirement of EEC Directives 74/561 and 74/562. The deadline has long been known and was widely publicised.* I have no power to extend it. The application of the professional competence requirement as part of licensing road haulage operators is a matter for the licensing authorities or, as regards licensing of public service vehicle operators, for the traffic commissioners. My Department does not have information on the number of small operators who may face revocation of their licences, but it is not thought to be large. It is open to any such operator either to employ a professionally competent transport manager or to obtain by an examination, which is of minimal standard, a certificate of professional competence.
* It was set in the Goods Vehicles (Operators' Licences) Regulations 1977 and the Public Service Vehicle Operators (Qualifications) Regulations 1977.