Work of the roadside rescue and recovery industry

That this House recognises the vital work of the roadside rescue and recovery industry which ensures roads are kept safe and clear; notes that part of the industry’s work involves carrying out recovery and storage under the direction of the Police or highways authorities; notes that fees charged for this type of work are controlled by Government regulations and are known as Statutory Fees and that these were last reviewed in 2008; further notes that an increasing proportion of these fees are being taken by the police and highways authorities, notes it is common for the recovery operator undertaking the recovery work to receive a fraction of the actual Statutory Fee resulting in a situation where operators receive less payment for a job than in 2008 despite Government guidance that these fees should not be a revenue generator for the police and highways authorities; recognises that the industry’s ability to undertake work covered by Statutory Fees is at breaking point and that spiralling maintenance and other costs since 2008 combined with other issues such as the increasing popularity and costs of recovering Electric Vehicles are adding to the pressure; and urges Government to address these issues and ensure a fair system of Statutory Fees that defines the role and income of both authorities and operators, accounts for the costs and risks of recovering and storing electric vehicles and the costs of operating sophisticated SOCO compliant facilities required by the police.