§ 3.7 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any estimate has been formed of the cost of the vehicle tests to the motoring community by the reduction of the tests from ten years to seven years, and whether it is intended to reduce the period from seven years to five years in the future.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)My Lords, the only additional costs to motorists resulting from the reduction from ten years to seven years of the age limit of vehicles subject to periodic test are those which fall on the owners of the vehicles concerned by way of the testing fee; that is, 10s. 6d. for a solo motor-cycle and 15s. for other types of vehicles. It is certainly intended to reduce the age limit still further. The reduction will be effected in stages, and the next step downwards will not necessarily be limited to bringing in only the five-year-old vehicles.
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, I am not quite sure whether I completely understand or appreciate the Answer which the noble Lord has given. But, surely, the more often the motor car owner has to have his vehicle tested, the more often will he have to pay the fee for having it done. Therefore, as you reduce the length of the intervals, surely there will be more for them to pay.
§ LORD CHESHAMNo, my Lords, I do not think that is quite true, because there is no question of reducing the length of the intervals at which cars are tested. The purpose of the Order which gave rise to this Question is to extend the scheme whereby a car is tested once a year to a class of cars to which it did not previously apply.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, does this not appear to be creating the danger of a feeling in the mind of the general motoring public, as you bring these things more and more forward, that the year of obsolescence of a car comes much earlier? You will no doubt create a demand for more new cars, but you may create also an even greater difficulty and waste in dealing with what are then called obsolescent cars.
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I should very much hesitate to accept that this test of the safety of brakes, steering and lights was causing cars to run into very early obsolescence. Of course, the test is really no more than to ensure that those particular components, which are very important with regard to road safety, are in proper order.
§ LORD LATHAMMay I ask the noble Lord whether he has read a book entitled The Waste Makers?