MOT Testing Magazine’s Editor Speaks at Parliamentary Committee
Late last year, the Parliamentary Transport Committee decided to scrutinize the DfT’s framework plan for road safety and asked for anybody who had an interest to provide evidence. Our Editor, Jim Punter in his role as Chairman of the MOT Trade Forum, a body which promotes the interests of the MOT industry, provided written evidence to the committee noting that despite the Transport Minister Mike Penning’s plans to reduce MOT Testing frequency, which would inevitably endanger road safety, this was not even mentioned in their road safety plans. As a result he was invited to Parliament to give evidence orally in front of the committee.
The meeting, chaired by Louise Ellman MP, was on 17th January and Punter was accompanied by Bill Duffy, the CEO of Halfords Autocentres, which runs over 250 Testing Stations, in his role as co-ordinator of the ProMOTe campaign to resist any reduction in MOT frequency.
Together they put a comprehensive case before the committee to retain the annual MOT Test on both road safety and cost (to the motorist) grounds.
At a previous hearing that same morning the MOT issue was raised when others were giving evidence. All four witnesses opposed any reduction in MOT Testing. They were Edmund King CEO of the AA, Quentin Wilson, broadcaster, Nick Starling, from the Association of British Insurers and Neil Greig from the Institute of Advanced Motorists.
Follow this link to view a parliamentlive.tv video recording of the meeting. (The section in which Jim Punter and Bill Duffy appear begins at 11:52:30). www.parliament.uk
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