Clause 2 - Designation of traffic officers
Traffic Management Bill
2:30 pm
Mr Paul Marsden (Shadow Minister, Transport; Shrewsbury and Atcham, Liberal Democrat)
That point was highlighted by the Select Committee on Transport on page 4 of its report on the Bill, its first report of Session 2003–04. It stated:
''We would like to know why the Government thinks it is appropriate that traffic officers should be employed by contractors.''
I hear what the Minister is saying, but it is vague and woolly, and he does not seem to be being specific about why contractors would be required. He says that that could be the case in several years time. I understand the need for flexibility, but would the Minister at least be willing to write to Committee members following the initial studies to explain the circumstances he envisages following initial trials of the new system and to explain further the circumstances under which contractors could be used.