Government Consultations

The purpose of this consultation is to seek views on:

(i) draft regulations under section 74A of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991(NRSWA), which provide for the launching of pilot schemes allowing highway authorities to levy a daily charge on utility companies where the latter carry out works to the highway (attached at Appendix B);

(ii) a draft Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) to accompany the regulations (attached at Appendix C).

(iii) a table of proposed charges for the pilots (attached at Appendix D).

Copies are on the Department’s website at: http://www.roads.dtlr.gov.uk/consult/newroads2/index.htm

(Due 12 October 2001)

I enclose a copy of a draft Statutory Instrument to revoke and replace the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) 1994 (as amended in 1995 and 1999) with revised and consolidated TSRGD 2001. The purpose is to update and revise the TSRGD in order to provide traffic authorities with greater flexibility and a greater choice of signs that they can use without them needing to be specially authorised by the Department. The proposed removal of the requirement for lighting some signs will also reduce the costs of some traffic schemes.

It has only been possible to include black and white illustrations for the sign diagrams, but the colours of new signs not shown in the TSRGD 1994 are indicated on the relevant diagrams. The final SI will, of course, have full colour illustrations. Copies of all the consultation documents, including the full colour version of the Schedules, can be seen on the Department's consultation website http://www.roads.dtlr.gov.uk/consult/traffic/01.htm

(Due 16 November 2001)

Motorists banned from driving in another EU country, would be banned from driving in the UK under proposals contained in a consultation letter published by the Home Office today.

The letter sets out proposals to ratify the EU Driving Disqualification Convention. Currently, drivers who are disqualified in their country of origin are effectively banned from driving

anywhere as their licences are removed however a driver disqualified abroad can continue driving in his home country and elsewhere.

The key points outlined for consultation are:

- Choice of enforcement method - either directly enforcing it, executing the decision via a judicial or administrative decision or converting the decision into one of the state of residence's own. The Government prefers the first option. Whichever is finally chosen a number of safeguards would apply, for example the UK would not seek to enforce a disqualification if it considered that a driver had not had adequate opportunity to defend themselves.

- Dual Criminality - there is a discretionary provision within the convention which allows the State of Residence to refuse to enforce a disqualification when the offence is not an offence under its own law. However, the Government takes the view that people driving in other member states have a responsibility to abide by that country's road traffic rules.

- Calculating the period to be enforced.

- Notification of other EU member states.

Home Office Minister Bob Ainsworth said:

"These proposals aim to close a longstanding loophole. It clearly defies common sense if someone who is disqualified for example, on holiday in France, can still drive on their return home. This consultation is the first step towards preparing legislation to implement the EU convention."

"If someone is unfit to drive they are unfit to drive regardless of international boundaries. These proposals aim to ensure that dangerous drivers are kept off the roads regardless of where in the EU they committed that offence."

The EU Driving Disqualification Convention was adopted and signed by all the EU Member States in June 1998 during the UK's Presidency of the EU.

Copies of the consultation letter are available from the Home Office website on www.homeoffice.gov.uk.

Transport Minister John Spellar has told the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) to carry out an urgent review of the use of national flags and symbols on number plates.

With a new system of vehicle registration recently coming into force, it allows for the optional use of the blue Euro symbol and the GB national identifier.

Mr Spellar said:

"New regulations introduced on 1 September already provide for the voluntary display of the European Circle of Stars together with the national identifier (GB). This allows drivers who travel within the European Community to dispense with a separate GB sticker on their vehicles. However, other flags and symbols are not currently allowed under the regulations."

"The prime purpose of a vehicle registration mark is to identify the vehicle, but we recognise that some motorists within the United Kingdom wish to display their own national flags and symbols on their number plates. Furthermore, technical developments mean that a wider range of options is now possible. The Government is keen to cater for all United Kingdom motorists and will therefore consult widely but urgently on proposals to amend the regulations."

The consultation process will begin at the beginning of October and will take 8 weeks. It will be carried out by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and will look at the display of national flags and other symbols on vehicle number plates.