§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the present regulations for the testing of old cars, and the issue of a certificate of roadworthiness, could be extended to every new car, prior to the issue of a registration certificate to the purchaser.]
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, such a requirement is not justified. The purpose of the test is to ensure that vehicles in use are maintained to at least the minimum standard necessary to ensure compliance with the regulations in respect of the items subject to test. Control of the quality of new vehicles is the responsibility of the manufacturer and dealer.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for that reply, so far as it goes. Is he aware that in a recent survey over 60 per cent. of new vehicles were on the roads with at least two major faults—some of them with faulty brakes and defective steering—and that the present state of affairs was described in The Times as "little short of appalling"?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I have heard about that report. I do not know how accurate it was, but I can perhaps reassure the noble Lord and the House that my right honourable friend is proposing to introduce a system of compulsory type approval, which would mean that each type of vehicle sold by manufacturers would have to conform to certain appropriate regulations. The 302 manufacturers would have to certify that each subsequential model sold conformed in detail to the type approved.
§ LORD POPPLEWELLMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that in the magazine Which there were several complaints alleged against motor salesmen in connection with these faults? The Motor Manufacturers' Association are as much concerned as anyone in this contion. Could not the Minister consider whether it would be feasible to appoint some sort of inspector to make spot checks at the manufacturers before the cars actually leave the place of production?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, if my right honourable friend does introduce type approval (and I hope that it may be done by the end of the next Session) I think that will give the noble Lord all the security he needs. If a salesman sells something defective, the buyer of course has his own means of redress.
§ LORD SEGALMy Lords, can the noble Lord give an assurance that the Government will insist on minimum standards for pre-delivery inspection on all new cars and thus remove a very real menace from the roads?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I think that that is really another question. If the noble Lord will write to me, I will look at it.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, would not the Minister agree that it might be more helpful were the existing regulations extended and made more effective in so far as the older vehicle was concerned, rather than that we should concern ourselves about the condition of new vehicles?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, my right honourable friend is well aware that the noble Lord and some members of the public have expressed disquiet over this matter, and he is at the moment undertaking a comprehensive review of the present car test.
§ LORD STRANGEMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that I understand that Rolls-Royce owners are marching on Crewe—I presume suitably dressed in fur coats and top hats—to obtain spare parts for their vehicles?