Joint trade union response to VOSA funding announcement
8 April 2008
There has been a joint trade union response to an announcement
today by Transport Minister, Jim Fitzpatrick, regarding additional
funding for the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), an
Executive Agency of the Department of Transport. The extra funding
will be used for the checking of vehicles involved in international
journeys (i.e. non British vehicles).
David Millar, speaking on behalf of PCS, Prospect and Unite
trade unions, said: "While we welcome any proposal of more money
for the checking of vehicles for road worthiness we are concerned
that the government's current review to outsource some of this
vital work will cost lives.
"Greater resources for VOSA is money well spent but any private
company that may potentially come in to run these services can only
be interested in profiteering and cutting services to the bone, not
investing and ensuring public safety."
Notes to editors
The DoT has commissioned a review to look at the possibility of
privatising some or all of VOSA's work.
VOSA is responsible for road safety - ensuring that the vehicles
on our roads are safe and fit for purpose. It oversees the MoT
certificate system for cars, the annual inspection of Heavy Goods
Vehicles and the annual inspection of Public Service Vehicles. It
also conducts roadside checks on HGVs and PSVs.
This announcement regarding additional funding for VOSA has been
made by Jim Fitzpatrick this morning.
