§ Pete WishartTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the statutory functions of traffic commissioners; what powers he has to intervene in the decisions made by traffic commissioners; if he will list the public inquiries called by traffic commissioners in the past year and the basis on which these inquiries were called; and if he will publish the guidance issued to traffic commissioners in respect of self-employed traffic managers. [132777]
§ Mr. McNultyTraffic commissioners are statutorily responsible for licensing the operators of heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles in their area, including taking disciplinary action against operators who breach the conditions of their licence: the conduct of vocational drivers, and for the registration of local bus services. The traffic commissioner for Scotland is also responsible for taxi fare and parking appeals.
The Secretary of State has no powers to intervene in decisions by traffic commissioners in carrying out their statutory functions.
Details of public inquiries are published by the traffic commissioners in their Annual Report to the Secretary of State. The report for 2002–03 is due to be published shortly and copies will be placed in the library.
No guidance has been issued to traffic commissioners in respect of self-employed transport managers. The requirements for transport managers are set out in the legislation and it is the responsibility of traffic commissioners to interpret whether these requirements are being met in individual cases.