Haulage Permits and Trailer Registration Bill [Lords] — House of Commons, 2018-06-26
Topic: Transportation
Eleanor Fulton Laing (Conservative, Centre-right): With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: New clause 2—Report on the impact of leaving the European Union on the international transport of goods— ‘(1) Within six months of Royal Assent of this Act, the Secretary of State must publish and lay before both Houses of Parliament an assessment of— (a) the impact of leaving the European Union; and (b) any relevant international agreement with the European Union or European Union member States, on the international transport of goods by road (2) An assessment under subsection (1) must consider in particular— (a) waiting times at ports for goods vehicles transporting goods internationally; (b) the likelihood of procedures to park goods vehicles transporting goods internationally on the M20 motorway in Kent ("Operation Stack") needing to be activated in the future; (c) the likelihood of requiring additional parking around ports for goods vehicles transporting goods internationally; and (d) the likelihood of the United Kingdom remaining a party to the 1987 Convention on a Common Transit Procedure, as amended (3) The assessment in subsection (1) must so far as practicable analyse the expected difference in outcomes which would result from the policies of Her Majesty’s Government at the time of the assessment and continued participation in the European Union Single Market and Customs Union.’ New clause 3—Report on the effect of ratifying the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic— ‘(1) The Secretary of State must lay before both Houses of Parliament an assessment of the effect of ratifying the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic ("the 1968 Convention") on the international transport of goods by road (2) The assessment must consider— (a) the likelihood of drivers of goods vehicles with United Kingdom driving licenses needing to purchase an International Driving Permit to travel to European Union member States after the United Kingdom leaves the European Union; and (b) the likelihood of reservations to the 1968 Convention issued by the United Kingdom, insofar as they relate to the international transport of goods, being subject to a legal challenge. (3) The report must be laid before both Houses of Parliament on or before 28 March 2019 (4) In this section, "International Driving Permit" has the same meaning as in the 1968 Convention.’ Amendment 4, in clause 2, page 2, line 40, leave out from "or" to the end of line 42 This amendment would remove reference to first come first serve or an element of random selection as methods for granting an application for a permit. Amendment 2, in clause 5, page 3, line 39, at end insert— ‘(1A) The regulations must ensure that the cost of applying for a permit under this Act to travel to an European Union member State is not disproportionate to the cost an applicant would have incurred in previously applying for a Community Licence.’ Amendment 5, in clause 9, page 5, line 36, after "Kingdom" insert ", and setting out the number of permits requested, granted and refused" This amendment would require the Secretary of State to report on the number of permits requested, granted and refused. Government amendments 1 and 3.