§ 45. Sir B. Jannerasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that many old cars which are not passed at one testing station are passed by other testing stations; whether there is any limit to the number of testing stations to which owners of old cars can submit their vehicles for tests; and whether he is satisfied with the present arrangements in so far as ensuring uniformity is concerned.
§ Mr. MarplesThe owner of a vehicle which has failed the test is free to submit it to another station, or indeed any number of other stations. I have no evidence, however, that this is a common practice or harmful to the scheme.
There are bound to be borderline cases, but I am satisfied that all practical steps, including periodic inspection, have been taken to ensure uniformity in testing. I shall not hesitate to withdraw authorisation from stations which fail to apply the prescribed standards.
§ Sir. B. JannerIs the Minister aware that only recently in Coventry a car was passed as being fit for the road and a couple of hours later was turned down at another garage as unfit because it had faulty steering, worn king pins, excessive play in the wheel bearings and inadequate lighting of the rear number plate? Does he realise that this is a serious situation? Will he see that there is some check on the testing such as 459 giving a card containing the reasons for which the car was declared unfit and arranging that the card should be produced if the car is presented at another testing station afterwards?
§ Mr. MarplesI will think about the second part of the supplementary question. If the hon. Member gives me the evidence on which he bases the first part of his supplementary question, I will go into it.