HC Deb 13 February 1957 vol 564 cc1251-2
11. Commander Scott-Miller

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what are his regulations with regard to grants of certificates of fitness for use as public service vehicles in regard to vehicles in the 12- to 14-seater range.

Mr. Watkinson

All public service vehicles adapted to carry eight or more passengers have to comply with the Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness) Regulations, 1941, as amended, before a certificate of fitness can be issued.

If my hon. and gallant Friend has any particular point in mind in regard to these Regulations, I will be glad to consider it.

Commander Scott-Miller

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are many makes of this type of vehicle advertised as suitable for small buses, which, because of their construction and layout, will never qualify for a certificate of fitness? In view of that, will he widen the scope of his Regulations to include them, or take steps to inform the public so that they do not purchase these vehicles and then find that they have bought useless objects?

Mr. Watkinson

The small vehicles to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers —and he is quite correct—should not be sold as entirely fitting the Regulations. I am looking now to see whether we can modify the Regulations to include more of them, but that will take some time.