XN000022-1981-02-11 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1981

THE PROPOSED NEW CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH CONTRACT HIRE CARS WILL OPERATE WILL DETER THEM FROM PLYING FOR HIRE AS ILLEGAL TAXIS, BY PROVIDING THAT THEY SHOULD ONLY OPERATE FROM A DESIGNATED ADDRESS AND ACCEPT HIRINGS ONLY ON PRIOR BOOKING.

THE BILL WILL ALSO GIVE THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT DISCRETION TO GIVE PRIORITY TO ANY APPLICANT, TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PERMITS WHICH MAY BE ISSUED TO ANY ONE APPLICANT AND TO BETERMINE APPLICATIONS BY LOTS.

*THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF PERMITS TO BE ISSUED SO AS TO PREVENT LARGE FLEETS OF NEW CONTRACT HIRE CARS APPEARING ON THE ROAD3, + MR JONES 3418.

TO ENSURE THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF THE SCHEME AND TO REGULATE THE POWERS OF THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, THE BILL MAKES PROVISION FOR THE SETTING UP OF TRANSPORT TRIBUNALS TO REVIEW DECISIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER.

THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL, IF ENACTED, AND ITS TWIN APPROACH OF LEGAL CONTRACT -IPE CAR PERMITS AND SANCTIONS AGAINST ILLEGAL OPERATIONS WOULD ALSO SERVE TO FILL A GAP IN VEHICLE INSURANCE COVERAGE, HE SAID.

FIRE HAZARD FINES MAY INCREASE

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AMENDING LEGISLATION WILL SOON BE SUBMITTED TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL PROPOSING SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN FINES FOR FIRE HAZARDS IN BUILDINGS, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON LEWIS DAVIES SAID THIS AFTERNOON.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ANDREW SO ON THE RECENT NORTH POINT IG FACTORY FIRE, MR DAVIES SAID IT WAS UNFORTUNATELY IMPOSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT SIMILAR INCIDENTS DO NOT OCCUR, GIVEN THE FALLIBILITY OF HUMAN NATURE, BUT STRENUOUS EFFORTS WERE BEING MADE TO MINIMISE THE RISK.

THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE:

*

*

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SCRUTINY OF ALL BUILDING PLANS BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO THEIR

APPROVAL, TO ENSURE THAT PROPER FIRE SERVICES INSTALLATIONS AND EQUIPMENT ARE INCORPORATED=

REGULAR INSPECTIONS BY THE FIRE SERVICES 200 LA OUR DEPARTMENTS CF ALL FACTOR IES AND INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS

OFFERING OF

ADVICE TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH FIRE REGULATIONS- AND

MAJOR CAMPAIGNS MOUNTED REGULARLY EY THE GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICES WHICH COMPRISE THE PUBLICATION OF LEAFLETS AND POSTERS AND PRODUCTION OF TV COMMERICALS.

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