Newslink October 2021

For all the latest news, see www.msagb.com
Do our views matter or is the
government paying lip service?
Colin Lilly
Editor, Newslink
Stakeholder is a buzz word I have never
been totally happy with and I have
always viewed with some suspicion. I
tend to think of it as a feelgood word to
make everyone think they’ve been
included, but a certain bias remains.
I referred to the Oxford Dictionary for a
definition: Stakeholders- “All those with
interests in an organization [sic]; for
example, as shareholders, employees,
suppliers, customers, or members of the
wider community. ‘Stakeholder theory’ is
an approach to business that attempts
to incorporate the interests of all
stakeholders in a business, as opposed
to the view that a firm is responsible
only to its owners. It thus attempts to
adopt an inclusive rather than a narrow
approach to business responsibility.”
What better way to make people feel
included than hold a consultation?
If the outcome of that consultation falls
in line with the desired outcome for the
definition it can be held up as a victory
for democracy. However, if the stakeholders’
views do not coincide with the desired
outcome, they can always be ignored.
Does this have an air of familiarity?
Consultation is defined as the action or
process of formally consulting or discussing.
Consulting is the business of giving
expert advice to other professionals.
The driver training profession has a
keen interest in road safety and casualty
reduction, with the knowledge and
experience to provide expert advice.
A referendum is a general vote by the
electorate on a single political question
which has been referred to them for a
‘‘
I am reminded of the ADIs
who invested in theory training
centres only to have the DfT
publish the question bank
and answers. It shows that
governments have little regard
for driver training...
‘‘
NEWSLINK n OCTOBER 2021
direct decision. A simple majority is all
that is required to approve a decision.
Therefore, can we say that the recent
B+E issue was the subject of a
consultation or a referendum?
If a ‘consultation’ was held on complete
removal of the driving test, can you
predict the result? I would suggest the
proposal would receive overwhelming
support from the public. Once again, that
would be a referendum.
Could these changes have been
possible if we had remained a member of
the EU?
We must spare a thought for those
trainers who have invested in a business
specialising in B+E training, some
acquiring manoeuvring areas; their
financial future has been put at risk. I am
reminded of the ADIs who invested in
theory training centres only to have the
DfT publish the question bank and
answers. It shows that governments of
any political hue have little regard for
driver training.
Glib suggestions have been made that
B+E trainers can easily swap to learner
training, but this shows a lack of
understanding. A vehicle that is suitable
for B+E training is not necessarily
appropriate for learner training.
Organisations offering LGV training will
find some of their vehicles under used.
They may not be able to invest in more
CE vehicles. It is all very well for the
DVSA to claim to be able to provide an
extra 50,000 driving tests. Will this
figure be based on the last financial year,
when Covid-19 reduced the number of
tests conducted, or an average taken
from non-Covid years?
There may be a need for 50,000 extra
drivers but will that number be recruited
and come forward to be tested?
If the level of demand means that there
are unused slots exceeding the number
created by removing the B+E category,
then some explanations of the decision
will be required.
Continued on page 8, with more reaction
from MSA GB on this story
CONTACT
To comment on this article or any other
issue surrounding driver training and
testing, contact Colin via editor@msagb.com
Welcome to your
digital, interactive
Newslink
See a pale blue box in any article
or on an advert? It it contains a
web address or email, it’s
interactive. Just click and it will
take you to the appropriate web
page or email so you can find
more details easier.
You’ll also find these panels across
the magazine: just click for more
information on any given subject.
To get the
full story,
click here
How to access this
magazine
You can read Newslink in three
ways:
Go online and read the interactive
magazine on the Yumpu website;
or, if you would like to read it
when you don’t have a mobile
signal or WiFi, you can download
the magazine to your tablet, PC or
phone to read at your leisure.
Alternatively, a pdf can be found
on the MSA GB website,
at www.msagb.com
Follow the
link MSA
GB sends
you to
access
Newslink,
and then
just click
Download
to save a
copy on
your device
COVER STORY
The fate of the unskilled or
the unlucky... a caravan lies
wrecked by the side of the
motorway.
SPECIAL REPORT
B+E testing falls by the
wayside - see pgs 8-12
03