§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Minister of Transport how many heavy goods vehicles were tested at his Department's testing stations and roadside tests in 1968; and how many passed the test.
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§ Mr. MulleyThe scheme for plating and testing heavy goods vehicles at Ministry testing stations did not start until 1st October, 1968 in England and Wales and 1st December, 1968 in Scotland. Under a phased 18-month programme only the very oldest (pre-1958) vehicles were called for test in 1968. Statistics are kept in terms of the number of tests and re-tests conducted at Ministry stations, and not in terms of the number of vehicles tested. In 1968 out of a total of 31,121 tests, 7,533 (24 per cent.) resulted in the station being unable to issue a test certificate because of the presence of defects. These figures include vehicles submitted for re-test following initial failure.
During the twelve months ended 30th September, 1968 checks of mechanical condition were carried out—mainly at the roadside—on 128,785 goods vehicles. 47.876 (37 per cent.) of these had prohibitions imposed, 11,303 (9 per cent.) being prohibited with immediate effect.