§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many authorisations he has withdrawn from garages authorised to carry out the MOT test in each year during which the tests have taken place; and what have been the grounds for such withdrawal.
§ Dr. GilbertFrom 1965, the first year for which complete figures are available, the number of compulsory withdrawals is as follows:
1965–159; 1966–12; 1967–311; 1968–2,663*; 1969–313; 1970–350; 1971–436: 1972–354; 1973–312; 1974–195; 1975–110.
* Includes those withdrawn for failing to meet the new requirements; many were later re-appointed.
Grounds for withdrawal are:—
- (a) Improper issue of a test certificate to a defective vehicle;
- (b) sub-standard test at an incognito check;
- (c) incorrect documentation or failure to make returns on time;
- (d) conviction in court of authorised examiner or nominated tester;
- (e) premises and equipment below standard.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to extend the MOT test to windscreen wipers, windscreen washers, 151W indicator lights, stop lights and exhaust systems, respectively.
§ Dr. GilbertI propose to make regulations this year to include these items in the MOT test.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the proposed extension of the MOT test to exhaust systems will extend to corrosion affecting steering or other parts of the vehicle concerned.
§ Dr. GilbertCorrosion is already a feature of the test where it affects steering or braking. This will be more clearly defined in the new testers' manual which is being prepared for publication.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to issue a more detailed testers' manual for those garages which carry out the MOT test.
§ Dr. GilbertA revised manual is already in an advanced state of preparation and will be published later this year.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many complaints he has received during each of the past five years regarding motor vehicle testing stations; what have been the nature of such complaints; and from whom they have come;
(2) how many complaints he has received concerning MOT testing stations during each of the last five years for which records are available.
§ Dr. GilbertThe information is as follows: 1971, 162; 1972, 129; 1973, 128; 1974, 72; 1975, 60. The complaints were from members of the public and were in the main, related to vehicles purchased on the strength of an MOT certificate; methods used for testing, the issue of refusal certificates; and the attitude of certain stations to their customers.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many garages have been authorised to carry out MOT tests during each of the years for which records are available.
§ Dr. GilbertFrom 1969 the number of garages authorised to carry out MOT tests has been as follows: 1969, 20,544;152W 1970, 20,842; 1971,20,720; 1972, 19,319; 1973, 18,756; 1974, 18,319; 1975, 17,534.