Legislation to allow car dealers and garages to own vehicles for lending to their customers will be tabled in the House of Assembly on Friday, Transport Minister Ewart Brown announced yesterday.

?If you run a business or operate a taxi, you rely on your truck or taxi for revenue,? Dr. Brown said. ?If your vehicle is off the road, you can?t earn a living. The new loaner legislation will allow the car dealer or garage where your truck or taxi is being repaired to provide you with a vehicle that you can use to operate your business ? at no charge to you.?

But the bill will also apply to private vehicle owners who have to wait longer than expected to get their wheels out of the repair shop. Dr. Brown said he recognised that the measures will entail extra costs for dealerships. ?But it is my hope that the garages and dealers will be able to provide loaner cars for their customers. Perhaps these businesses will find a way to work with the local insurance companies to minimise the cost of the loaner vehicle programme ? a business-to-business programme, so to speak.?

Legislators will continue debating the Budget for the coming financial year in today?s sitting.