NPHTA WORKING O COVID-19: WHAT HAVE WE BEEN UP TO? by David Lawrie, Director, NPHTA


As always, we have been researching, watching, supporting, lobbying, writing, sourcing, examining - or to quote the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, “whatever it takes”.


INSURANCE


We first listened to many drivers who were concerned that hire and reward insurance policies did not cover deliveries. So we got right onto that through our insurance contacts, who made enquiries throughout several insurers, not only to see if there was cover, but also to verify what the procedure was for those where it was not included.


We then posted that report. But for us that wasn’t enough, so we asked our contacts at government level to get involved. They then reported to us that they had achieved an agreement through the ABI (Association of British Insurers) to stipulate that this type of work would be automatically added to policies without the need to notify, including food deliveries. However, a word of caution: please double check since not all insurers are members of the ABI.


FINDING OTHER FORMS OF WORK


Once we had the insurance issue out of the way, we contacted the government directly and had our website added to their catalogue for sourcing transport; some members have already been contacted as a result of this.


We contacted various horticultural outlets including the Horticultural Trade Association for delivery of plants and flowers from garden centres etc; this was posted on LinkedIn with reference to the NPHTA website for their members to make contact in the hope that some drivers may benefit from that.


We advised companies and drivers to contact anyone and everyone who may benefit from delivery services in order to subsidise their incomes whilst the nighttime economy is still in full lockdown.


CAN THE TRADE STILL OPERATE?


Yes you can; under the very first guidance issued which listed the “key workers” list,


36


public transport was included. This has never changed, the trade is recognised within most licensing policies and indeed within LGMPA, as well as by most MP’s and in a court of law as being “an integral part of the public transport infrastructure”.


This was further reinforced with the Department for Transport notification which indicated that although the trade should not be classed as essential work, (notice the term there) travel should be assessed on a case by case basis.


CAN THE TRADE REFUSE FARES?


James Button was quite clear in last month’s PHTM that drivers did of course have the right to refuse if there was justifiable reason, which in this case would suggest if they were showing symptoms of the coronavirus.


However, refusal of fares would have to be done very cautiously. For example, refusing because it is not classed as an essential journey, whilst sensible and following government guidance – on what does the driver (or operator) base that decision? We could be on shaky ground simply because we are not enforcement, and this could lead to a complaint being made; whether the complaint would be upheld in light of the situation remains to be seen, but let’s just hope it doesn’t come to that.


GOVERNMENT SUPPORT?


We have been campaigning and lobbying hard with anyone and everyone who would listen including the Chancellor, the Shadow Chancellor, the Prime Minister direct and local MP’s. We provided you all with copies of the letters sent through our new Facebook group along with other taxi related Facebook groups and pages nationally, and several WhatsApp groups nationwide asking you to forward them on to your own local MPs. This seems to be working, given the latest announcement made on 27th April that, from Monday 4th May, small businesses can apply for a “bounce back loan” which is 100 per cent government backed and is based on 25 per cent of “turnover” as opposed to net profits.


Other forms of government support include Universal Credit, Business Interruption Loan, employee job retention schemes and for those operators with council registered


business premises, which are in receipt of non-domestic rates relief, there is the business interruption grant of £10,000, which some of you will have received by now.


SCHOOL CONTRACTS


We have been in contact with several local authorities, including education authorities, to find out what their stance is regarding payment and continuity. Many were not paying anything, whilst some were paying a full and some a part payment for their contracts during this “force majeure”; whilst in a lot of cases, certainly for SEN contracts, many contracts were in fact still operational, meaning there was not much impact in those cases.


But this situation changed as the lockdown set in long and hard, so we contacted them again for an update; then we contacted the Department for Education and had further clarity laid down. In most cases now we are pleased to say that most contracts are being paid - some in full, some are at 70 per cent.


We have not stopped there, oh no, far from it…


HOW CAN DRIVERS STAY SAFE, PROTECT LIVES AND HELP SAVE THE NHS


We sourced and ordered 2,000 FFP2 face masks, KN95 4-layer type; these masks are multiple use, and many members have already purchased them, from Glasgow to Cornwall and many places in between, because we knew that they simply had to have them.


Once sourced, we contacted the government and the NHS to notify them that we have them and can get as many as they require, as have many other businesses and organisations throughout the UK. But as with anything else when dealing with government, now more than ever it takes time for them to sift through all the offers and respond accordingly. This response has now been received and the required certificates of compliance (FDA, CE and EU) have been sent to them; in the meantime of course, we can still get as many as are needed, so don’t worry about supply.


I won’t go into the detail too much here on the benefits and advantages of wearing a face mask, since there is a separate article covering that. Suffice it to say that the medical advice internationally is very strong,


MAY 2020


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112