§ 11. Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what checks are made to ensure that commercial vehicles entering Great Britain, particularly from the Republic of Ireland, are in all respects roadworthy and to a stan- 1708 dard which is compatible with the Ministry of Transport test certificates issued in this country.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Eldon Griffiths)The Road Traffic (Foreign Vehicles) Act, 1972, gives enforcement officers the necessary powers to carry out such checks.
§ Mr. RedmondAre these checks being carried out? Does my hon. Friend realise that a number of vehicles of commercial types, usually landing at Preston, I believe, having come through Larne from the Republic of Ireland, are arriving in the hands of itinerant tinkers or gipsies but are simply not fit to be on the road, being a menace to the drivers and to the public as a whole, whereas commercial vehicle operators in this country would be jumped on from a great height if their vehicles did not undergo the Ministry of Transport test regularly?
§ Mr. GriffithsThe Act in question came into force only last week. However, I note what my hon. Friend says and I shall ask my Department's examiners to look into the problem which he mentions.