HC Deb 28 April 1970 vol 800 cc1036-7
18. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Minister of Transport having regard to the evidence obtained by the Automobile Association, a copy of which has been sent to him, that 60 per cent. of vehicles are faulty, what steps he is taking to improve vehicle inspection, road safety and safety of pedestrians.

Mr. Bob Brown

Allowing for the nature of the sample on which the A.A.'s findings are based, they are not inconsistent in detail with the failure rate in the Ministry's test. We will continue the annual tests and roadside checks of vehicles as in the past and the police will no doubt enforce the regulations as before. Strict measures introduced in 1968 to enforce the standards of the vehicle testing scheme are still being maintained.

Sir G. Nabarro

Would not the hon. Gentleman agree that that is an appalling confession, which amounts to a statement that 60 per cent. of the vehicles right across the board on the roads of this country are not in a roadworthy condition, and suffer from one fault or another? What is he doing specifically in the early future to raise standards of roadworthiness and to meet general levels of road safety?

Mr. Brown

The hon. Gentleman must not put words into my mouth. I did not say that there was a failure rate of 60 per cent. On the sample that the A.A. made there was a failure rate across the board of 60 per cent. but with the Ministry tests it is about 31 per cent. I agree that this is high, but proper maintenance of vehicles is the responsibility of the owners. Without the vehicle testing scheme those 31 per cent. of vehicles would still be running around and constituting a danger to the public.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

Is it not the case that there are about 2,000 rules and regulations and statutory orders affecting vehicles, that invariably none of them are carried out and that very rarely are there any spot checks made at the roadside? Is my hon. Friend aware that there are hundreds of thousands of vehicles on the roads today that have never been stopped at any time by one of these so called spot checks? Will not he carry out the existing laws?

Mr. Brown

I am not prepared to confirm or deny that there are 2,000, 1,999 or 2,001 rules and regulations. I am prepared to take issue with my hon. Friend about spot checks seldom being carried out. I spent three hours at the roadside with a team doing spot checks yesterday afternoon in the South of Scotland. I can tell my hon. Friend that every week in the northern and southern parts of Scotland at least one roadside check is made. The same applies to England and Wales.