New Weights and Measures Powers Sought
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From Our Political Correspondent
DOWERS to stop goods vehicles and L if necessary to inspect goods or documents are being sought by weights and measures inspectors under the new Weights and Measures Bill now going through Parliament.
Labour M.P.s, while not convinced that these powers are necessary, have put down amendments to the Bill to probe out the situation.
They particularly want to know why the Government has specifically written into the Bill a sub-section to say that inspectors shall definitely not have powers to stop a vehicle on the highway—at any rate as a result of this Bill.
They have accordingly tabled one amendment to replace this sub-section with another which says that:
If an inspector has reasonable cause to believe that any road vehicle is carrying any equipment, goods or documents. which he is authorized by this Act to test or inspect, he may cause such vehicle to be stopped and may detain it for such period as may be reasonably necessar
for the purposes of such testing or nspection.
Two other amendments seek " powers to stop vehicles merely carrying fuel. sand or ballast. It is understood that the inspectors want powers to examine upon the road, weighing machines or documents as to weights which drivers are carrying. The Bill in its original form provides many consumer safeguards, but stops short at authorizing the inspectors to halt vehicles upen the roads.
I understand that the Socialist sponsors of the main amendment would he reluctant to press this issue to a division and so there seems virtually no chance, under present circumstances, of the amendment going through.