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blister admits Vosa lacks cash to stop Euro cowboys
Page 16
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Last week's BBC programme on foreign trucks has prompted a reaction
from both the Dfland the T&G. Chris Tindall and Sally Nash report
TRANSPORT SECRETARY Stephen Ladyman (pictured) has admitted that Vosa does not have the resources to deal with LGV drivers bringing unroadworthy vehicles into this country and flouting road safety regulations.
However, the BBC programme that highlighted the problem of Continental drivers arriving in the UK with sub-standard trucks has been attacked by the Transport General Workers Union for whipping up xenophobia (see panel, right).
Stephen Ladyman was responding to concerns on Real Stories that he is happier with what \IOU was achieving than it is itself, after officers complained
they don't have the money to deal with the influx of drivers flouting the law.
Ladyman says: Do I think they have all the resources they would like? No. Do I think there are still people who are breaking the law and bringing unroadworthy vehicles into this country? Of course. And I am not happy about that at all. But we have to make the best possible use of the resources we have got."
A Department for Transport (INT) spokesman says Ladyman was trying to explain that everyone could do with more resources.
However.the spokesman admits that enforcement is not a government priority: "There's a general principle that the government has to prioritise where resources are going, as do we all."
A statement later released by the Dfl* adds: "During 2004/05 Vosa received an income of £152m; an increase of 177.6m on the previous yea r.We are committed to ensuring Vosa has the resources it needs to meet its objectives."