ROG:
Would I be right in thinking that there is a move for HATOs to cone off lane 1 every time there is a vehicle on the hard shoulder
It’s news to me Rog, but who am I to comment, I’m only the guy at the sharp end doing the job!! who knows what goes on in our bosses heads 
Most areas will not put on a closure during peak times in case severe disruption is caused, so I can see it being a non starter. 
The Highway Man:
ROG:
Would I be right in thinking that there is a move for HATOs to cone off lane 1 every time there is a vehicle on the hard shoulderIt’s news to me Rog, but who am I to comment, I’m only the guy at the sharp end doing the job!! who knows what goes on in our bosses heads
It was that others had said they always move out into lane 2 so my thought was that if this is now common practice then the HATOs might as well cone off lane 1 
Sometimes when its busy its not possible get out a lane as you are completely boxed in, i hate that, especially when i can see people moving about around the stationary vehicle.
Highway man, i see you are likely to get the go ahead, literally, on gantry red X’s ?