Now that Andy Burnham has made all his ministerial appointments, it looks like Simon Lightfoot MP will continue as Minister for Roads as well as picking up a second ministerial appointment as Minister for Equalities. We will look to engage with him ideally at a member’s location in Mr Lightfoot’s constituency.
There has been quite a bit of noise about the recent European Union’s stance on anti-dumping of tyres. Just to be clear, as we are no longer part of the European Union, this will not affect us directly. If anything, it is likely to have a negative impact as tyres that were destined for the European market from China will potentially end up in the UK. We will continue to monitor this situation, but given very low levels of tyre manufacturing in the UK, it is unlikely the UK government will follow Europe.
At civil service level, NTDA is now proactively engaging on part-worn tyres, firstly with the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS), part of the Department for Business and Trade, who have facilitated meetings with both the Environment Agency and the Department of Transport. The OPSS is the part of government responsible for every product sold in the UK, yet part-worn tyres were not on their radar until now.
NTDA is also looking to share guidance on part-worn tyres across the local authority network through our Primary Authority partnership with Bucks and Surrey Trading Standards as well as engaging with the Chartered Trading Standards Institute, the professional body for Trading Standards officers. Our aim is to support local Trading Standards Officers and give them the confidence to act.
In the devolved nations, we had recent engagement with DEARA, SEPA and Natural Resources Wales on our guidance document for end-of-life tyres which will be issued to members over the summer.
Further work is planned on influencing government on the matter of MOT advisory notices and encouraging better management and follow-up. We will look to continue to engage with the DVSA on this matter.
We have done a lot of work with the Department of Work and Pensions who have been actively involved in our Careers, Recruitment and Development Working Group and further guidance for members on a range of work experience opportunities will be coming out shortly.
We have also engaged with the Health & Safety Executive on helping update some of their guidance documents
- Working safely under motor vehicles being repaired INDG434
- Safe recovery (and repair) of buses and coaches fitted with air suspension PM85
- Health and safety in motor vehicle repairs HSG261
If, as an NTDA member, there is something you feel NTDA should be focusing its political work on, please contact ianandrew@ntda.co.uk