PART VI N.I.MISCELLANEOUS

Removal of requirement for Department of Finance and Personnel to approve certain matters relating to charging of fees by DepartmentN.I.

79.—(1) The statutory provisions listed in paragraphs (2) and (3) (which require the Department of Finance and Personnel to approve certain matters relating to the charging of fees by the Department) shall cease to have effect.

(2) In the Transport Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 (c. 37)–

(a)in section 9(1) (fees for road service licences) the words “, with the approval of the Ministry of Finance,”;

F1(b). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1(c). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F1(d). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(3) In the Order of 1981–

(a)Article 19C(3) (fees under regulations);

(b)in Article 66(1)(a) (fees for licences for public service vehicles) the words “, subject to the approval of the Department of Finance,”;

(c)in Article 79A(2) (fees for taxi drivers' licences) the words “with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel”;

(d)in Article 80 (repayment of fees) the words “, with the approval of the Department of Finance,”;

(e)in Article 132(2)(a) (fees to be paid for registration as approved driving instructor) the words “, with the approval of the Department of Finance,”;

(f)in Article 132(2)(d) (fees to be paid for application for examination as approved driving instructor) the words “with the approval of the Department of Finance”;

(g)in Article 135(2)(a) (fees to be paid for approved driving instructor licence) the words “, with the approval of the Department of Finance,”.

Disclosure of information about insurance status of vehiclesN.I.

81.  F3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Departments' functions as to road safetyN.I.

82.—(1) Article 52 of the Order of 1995 (powers of Department as to giving road safety information and training) is amended as follows–

(a)in paragraph (3)(b), omit the words from “the construction, improvement, maintenance or repair of roads” to the end;

(b)omit paragraph (3)(c);

(c)after paragraph (3) insert–

“(4) The Department may give, or make arrangements for the giving of, training on road safety to road users, or any class or description of road users, on payment of a fee.

(5) The Department may by regulations, in respect of any fees that may be charged under paragraph (4)–

(a)make provision for the payment of fees of such amounts as are prescribed by the regulations;

(b)specify the maximum fees that a person may be required to pay;

(c)specify the persons to whom such fees are payable;

(d)provide for the times at which, and method by which, fees are payable.”.

(2) After that Article insert–

“Functions of Department for Regional Development as to road safety

52A.—(1) The Department for Regional Development (in this Article “the Department”) must prepare and carry out a programme of measures designed to improve road safety.

(2) The Department may, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel, make contributions towards the cost of measures for promoting road safety which are taken by any authority, body or person.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), in pursuance of its duty under that paragraph, the Department–

(a)must carry out studies into accidents arising out of the use of vehicles on roads or parts of roads;

(b)must, in the light of those studies, take such measures as appear to the Department to be appropriate to prevent such accidents, including the construction, improvement, maintenance or repair of roads which are maintainable by the Department, and other measures taken in the exercise of the Department's powers for controlling, protecting or assisting the movement of traffic on roads;

(c)in constructing new roads, must take such measures as appear to the Department to be appropriate to reduce the possibilities of such accidents when the roads come into use.”.

Regulations prohibiting the grant of excise licences unless evidence of insurance or securityN.I.

83.  After Article 97 of the Order of 1981 (requirements as to production of certificate of insurance or of security) insert–

“Regulations prohibiting the grant of excise licences unless evidence of insurance or security

97A.  The Department may by regulations provide that where an application is made in Northern Ireland for a licence under the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 the licence shall not be granted unless the applicant produces such evidence as may be prescribed that either–

(a)on the date when the licence comes into operation there will be in force the necessary policy of insurance or the necessary security in relation to the use of the vehicle by the applicant or by other persons on his order or with his permission; or

(b)the vehicle is a vehicle to which Article 90 does not apply at a time when it is being driven by the owner or by a servant of the owner in the course of his employment, or is otherwise subject to the control of the owner.”.

Alteration of penaltiesN.I.

84.  Any provision of this Order which alters any penalty for an offence has effect only in relation to offences committed after the coming into operation of the provision.

Power to make consequential provisionsN.I.

85.—(1) The Department may by order subject to negative resolution make such amendments (including repeals and revocations) as may appear appropriate in consequence of any provision contained in this Order in any Northern Ireland legislation passed or made before the provision comes into operation.

(2) An order under paragraph (1) may include any appropriate transitional provisions or savings.

Amendments and repealsN.I.

86.—(1) Schedule 7 (which contains minor and consequential amendments) shall have effect.

(2) The statutory provisions specified in Schedule 8 are repealed to the extent specified.