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Dept for Transport

Answer

Sir Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department has taken (a) to reduce regulation in the road haulage industry and (b) to reduce on-costs on road haulage client businesses; and if he will make a statement. [218923] Mr. Jamieson: Much of my Department's activity is non-regulatory. We have a significant programme of research into best practice, and we disseminate this knowledge to the industry. The last impact assessment concluded that companies involved achieved annual savings of £65 million of which £42 million was attributed to the best practice programme. In the last two years we have funded a major programme to train truck drivers to drive in a more fuel- efficient way. Savings of up to 9 per cent. are possible on fuel bills, typically worth £2,100 per year per driver. We have funded a similar programme to advise on fuel- efficient operating practices, for example advice on aerodynamic equipment and tyres that optimise fuel- consumption. Again substantial fuel and cost savings have been shown to be possible. We will be consulting later in the year on proposals to streamline the operator licensing system, building on the successful computerisation for the Traffic Area Network, which is already saving time and money for both operators and Government. Our Road Safety Bill contains proposals for a system of graduated fixed penalties for offences relating to the operation of commercial vehicles, and a deposit scheme to ensure hauliers from abroad who commit offences to not escape unpunished, as happens too often now. This will provide a more effective deterrent to those who compete unfairly by operating outside the law, to the benefit of legal operators.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

431 c1336-7W;431 c1330-1W; 218923

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Cost effectiveness Consumption Fixed penalties Freight Fuels Large goods vehicle drivers Training Regulation Roads

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk