§ 11. Mr. Danceasked the Minister of Transport how many of the 32,900 road freight vehicles and trailers transferred to the National Freight Corporation on the 31st December, 1968, have been now submitted for testing under his Department's scheme; and how many he expects will be submitted in the near future.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. Neil Carmichael)As indicated to the hon. Member on 21st April, compliance with the regulations governing the testing of heavy goods vehicles is a matter for the National Freight Corporation. I have nothing further to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member on 2nd April.—[Vol. 782, c. 121]
§ Mr. DanceWill the hon. Gentleman agree that his earlier Answer to a Question of mine was highly misleading when he said that only 1 per cent. of vehicles submitted for testing had failed? Will he confirm what I believe is correct, that the £5 million loan to the National Freight Corporation is for one purpose 932 alone, and that is to replace vehicles which have been badly maintained by British Railways in the past?
§ Mr. CarmichaelI have given the hon. Member the figures on a number of occasions before and I have no reason to doubt the accuracy of those figures; I per cent. of the 12,000 vehicles failed the test. We expect that of roughly 32,000 vehicles taken over, at least 30,000 will go for test. But it is unreasonable to ask the National Freight Corporation for detailed information on this subject which is basically a subject for management.