0-licence bill continues
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• Continuous 0-licensing could be introduced as early as next spring. It became clear last week that the necessary bill is set to speed through the final stages of the parliamentary process unhindered.
Last Wednesday (26 October) the House of Lords overwhelmingly rejected Labour Party amendments to the bill introducing Operator Licences which will not have to be renewed every five years.
Labour peer Lord Stanley Clinton-Davis argued that existing and new 0-licence holders should be scrutinised by Licensing Authorities for a year before being granted a continuous licence.
But Under-Secretary of State Viscount Giles Goschen said a probation period was unnecessary: New operators are given close attention and are invariably visited by the Vehicle Inspectorate within the first 12 months." He added that a probationary period would "create a year of uncertainty for operators who are just setting up a new business". He stressed that authorities could take action against an operator at any time under continuous 0-licensing.