Hours rumours denied
Page 17
Page 19
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
MP accuses Mr. Muliey of mishandling the situation and asks for two-month delay
• Rumours, widespread last weekend, that the introduction of the new drivers' hours and records regulations would be postponed for three months from the scheduled March I were categorically denied by the Ministry of Transport this week. A Ministry official told CM on Tuesday: "There is no change in the plan—March I still stands".
It nevertheless seems probable that neither the Ministry nor the police will wish to see the new regulations strictly enforced in the early months. The Ministry is well aware of the trade associations' view that implementation of the regulations has been indecently rushed. The Ministry has not yet even laid the regulations for record-keeping (or for the detailed hours concessions); a spokesman told CM this week that the regulations would be laid "soon" but could not give a date.
Letter to Minister
Meanwhile, the Minister of Transport has been accused of mishandling the introduction of this legislation by Mr. Michael Heseltine, MP, Tory front bench spokesman on transport. In a letter to Mr. Mulley on Monday be drew attention to the serious concern felt in the industry as a result of the "totally unrealistic timetable" proposed, and suggested that introduction of the new arrangements should be delayed.
Mr. Heseltine's letter goes on: "The short notice of fundamental changes in hours rules presents many problems in the field of driver training, but the difficulties are far more severe in the case of drivers' records where new-style books have to be printed and distributed.
"Drivers have to be trained, new systems for checking the records have to be established and, on top of all this, the new-style records are in themselves complicated. These records must follow closely statutory requirements., they must be kept in books, completed in duplicate and so forth.
"Little regard appears to have been paid in the drafting of the regulations to the practical difficulties encountered by lorry drivers during their day-by-day work.
"I believe that the Ministry indicated that the record regulations would be before Parliament prior to Christmas 1969, but they have only been laid at the end of January, giving industry only one month's notice. This contrasts with the 15 months that has already elapsed since the Transport Act came on the Statute Book. This in itself indicates how ill-prepared and considered that legislation was.
-We now have a totally unrealistic timetable, given that books will have to be issued to approximately 750,000 lorry drivers. It is virtually a physical impossibility to complete this task in a matter of 30-odd days.
quite understand that the Ministry cannot defer the introduction of the record regulations in isolation and that the starting day must be linked to the introduction of operators' licensing, but there is no reason why operators' licensing and records should not both be deferred for two months to give industry a fair preparation period.
-1 hope that you will consider this matter as one of urgency and thus, at this late hour, take what steps you can to facilitate a smooth changeover to the new system."
Minister takes powers Last week the Minister made the Transport Act 1968 (Commencement No.4) Order 1970 which brought into operation on January 22 sections 96(10) and (12) of the Act which gives him powers to make regulations and orders modifying the requirements of the new drivers' hours regulations as they affect certain drivers. A separate Commencement Order will be made to bring the rest of Section 96 into operation.
Later in the week the Minister laid the Drivers' Hours (Goods Vehicles) (Modifications) Order 1970, obtainable from HMSO price 9d, which takes effect on March 1. This exempts from daily and weekly duty limits the drivers of small goods vehicles and dual-purpose vehicles used for certain purposes—it applies to doctors, nurses, midwives, dentists, veterinary surgeons in a professional capacity; work wholly or mainly in connection with inspection, cleaning, maintenance, repair, installation or fitting services; commercial travellers carrying samples; RAC, AA and RSAC patrolmen on duty. All these are also absolved from the rest-period regulation and have their working day defined as 24 hours.
This Order also provides exemptions by which off-road driving in connection with building and civil engineering works shall not count as driving time.
The concessions for postal vehicles, newspaper deliveries, livestock carriers, agricultural, horticultural and milk transport will be the subject of a separate set of regulations.