An inquiry into a bin lorry crash which claimed the lives of six people has heard claims there were "significant shortcomings" in Glasgow City Council's recruitment procedures at the time the driver got his first job at the authority, reports itv.com.

On 22 December 2014, Harry Clarke was driving a bin lorry when he appeared to lose consciousness at the wheel. The lorry travelled out of control along Queen Street in Glasgow, before crashing into the side of the Millennium Hotel.

A fatal accident inquiry looking into the tragedy has already heard that Harry Clarke had a history of health issues; including fainting, dizziness, and stress dating back to the 1970s.

Dorothy Bain QC, representing the family of one of the crash victims, questioned Geraldine Ham, a human resources manager at the council, as the inquiry entered its third week.

Talking the witness through various employment documents, the lawyer put it to her: "At the stage that Mr Clarke was employed by the council to transport children with special needs, we can see significant shortcomings in the council process for recruitment."

Ms Ham said the local authority tried to ensure that the necessary employment processes were in place.

Ms Bain said the inquiry has seen that where Mr Clarke "doesn't tell the council the truth, the recruitment process was not adequate in order to prevent his employment".

The witness agreed.

The QC continued: "For that reason you would agree, I presume, that the recruitment process wasn't adequate?"

Ms Ham responded: "There's room for improvement, yes."

Fiona Coombe, Director of Legal and Regulatory Research for Staffing Industry Analysts, commented: “An employee who drives lorries, minibuses or buses must renew their licence every five years through the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and as part of the process ask a doctor to complete a medical examination report. It is not clear from the report whether Mr Clarke was passed as fit to drive by DVLA.”

“However employers have a duty to ensure that drivers who they employ permanently are fit to drive, are competent and understand they have a legal duty to be fit to drive. In line with DVLA requirements, the Health and Safety Executive suggests that employers screen all existing and potential employees operating workplace transport for fitness before employment and at five-yearly intervals from age 45,” she added.