The Department of Transport (Fees) (Amendment) Order 1995

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order further amends the Department of Transport (Fees) Order 1988 by substituting a new Table III and Table VI in Schedule 1.

The new Table III specifies functions and matters which are to be taken into account in the determination of fees and charges to be fixed by the Secretary of State under the Road Traffic Act 1988. It contains drafting changes as a result of the replacement of the Road Traffic Act 1972 (c. 20) by the Road Traffic Act 1988 and subsequent amendments to the 1988 Act.

The new Table III also makes specific provision in relation to charges under section 46(d) of the 1988 Act for the supply of test certificate forms. Further light goods vehicles to which section 45 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 applies are treated in the same way as passenger vehicles.

A person who drives a motor bicycle but does not hold a full licence to do so is required to undergo a course of off-road and on-road basic training (“compulsory basic training”) before he can drive on a public road unsupervised, or before he can take a test of competence to drive a motor bicycle. Compulsory basic training replaced Part I of the test for motor bicycles which, after the 31st May 1991, ceased to exist. As a consequence references to Part I and II of the test for motor bicycles have been removed.

Table III also specifies functions and matters which are to be taken into account in fixing fees under section 125A of the 1988 Act. Section 125A was inserted in the 1988 Act by the Road Traffic (Driving Instruction by Disabled Persons) Act 1993 and amongst other things enables the Secretary of State to prescribe a fee for entering a person’s name in the register of approved driving instructors with an indication that he is a disabled person.

The new Table VI specifies functions and matters which are to be taken into account in the determination of fees to be fixed by the Secretary of State under section 61A of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994. Section 61A was inserted into the 1994 Act by the Finance Act 1995 and comes into force on the 1st July 1995. Amongst other things it enables the Secretary of State to prescribe a fee for the issue of certificates which state the design weight of a vehicle.