HC Deb 16 March 2000 vol 346 cc323-4W
Mr. Harvey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision there is(a) for prescribing in which newspapers public notices of applications for vehicle operating licences must be posted, and (b) of stipulating whether these should be (i) local and (ii) regional newspapers. [114319]

Mr. Hill

The Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995 requires a goods vehicle operator to arrange for notice of his application for an operator's license to bepublished in one or more local newspapers circulating in the locality.

If a Traffic Commissioner believes that the application has not been correctly advertised in this way he may refuse the application.

Mr. Harvey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will amend the regulations and processes involved in granting vehicle operating licences for premises to bring them within the process for determining planning applications. [114320]

Mr. Hill

We have no immediate plans to amend legislation. Local authority planning powers are entirely separate from those of Traffic Commissioners. The two systems are designed to complement each other.

Mr. Harvey

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the process of posting public notices of applications for vehicle operating licences in a newspaper circulating in the place where the premises to be licensed are situated. [114318]

Mr. Hill

The practice of advertising applications for goods vehicle operator licences in local newspapers has been considered in past reviews of the operators licensing systems, but no changes were made. In 1996, a pilot project was carried out whereby staff at two Traffic Area Offices placed the advertisements in newspapers, rather than the operator. There was found to be no significant increase in the number of representations received during the trial period. We keep the process under review but have no immediate plans to change it.