HL Deb 05 May 1965 vol 265 cc923-4

2.36 p.m.

LORD BOOTHBY

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps are being taken to ensure that the inspection of motor vehicles is sufficiently swift and extensive to ensure that licences are not granted for those which are no longer fit to run on the public highways.]

THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD LINDGREN)

My Lords, the noble Lord may have particularly in mind vehicles for which, following an accident, insurers have settled a claim on a "total loss" basis and which are sometimes repaired and resold. We are not complacent about the use of defective vehicles from whatever cause and are anxious to do everything possible to remove any special risk there may be on this account. We are, therefore, considering whether there is scope for applying more effectively the existing legal safeguards and are looking into the possibility of the road safety factor being taken more specifically into account in the disposal of "total loss" vehicles.

LORD BOOTHBY

My Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he has seen, as I have, many vehicles—not only small ones, but large ones as well—which clearly were built before the First World War and which constitute almost as great a menace to the public as drunken driving? Will he do all in his power to see that these vehicles are cleared off the roads for good and all?

LORD LINDGREN

My Lords, we cannot take any credit, for the previous Minister of Transport is entitled to all the credit; but there is already an annual system of examination, and a test certificate is required before a road fund licence can be issued for any vehicle over five years old: that is, all private cars and goods vehicles under one and a half tons unladen weight. We are going into the question of heavier vehicles later.

LORD MONTAGU OF BEAULIEU

My Lords, will the noble Lord confirm that, so far as the old vehicles are concerned, they all have to pass the test in the same way as modern vehicles do; that they have all passed the test, and have an extremely good record on the road, so far as accidents are concerned?

LORD LINDGREN

There are old vehicles and old vehicles. Much depends on the standard of maintenance during the time a vehicle is in the ownership of a particular driver.

LORD MONTAGU OF BEAULIEU

Will the noble Lord confirm that the older vehicles referred to have to pass the test like all other vehicles?

LORD LINDGREN

As I mentioned in answer to the noble Lord, Lord Boothby, an annual test certificate is required for any vehicle over five years of age before a road fund licence can be issued.