HC Deb 23 March 1979 vol 964 cc138-9W
Mr. Maurice Macmillan

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many MOT tests were performed in 1971, 1975 and 1978 for each of these years; if he will list by local authority area how many official MOT testing garages existed; on the same area basis how many of these garages have so far been approved as conforming to the new standards which will apply from June; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Horam

The following are the figures for passenger car tests, including light goods vehicles:

1971 … … 10,632,314
1975 … … 13,200,000
1978* … … 13,203,850
*Figure for the 12-month period ending 30 September 1978.

Traffic area Total number of authorised testing stations* Number of testing stations approved to the new standards as at 31 January Number of testing stations (including new applications) which seem likely to be equipped and operating to the new standards by 1 June
1971 1975 1978 1979 1979
Northern … … … 1,032 881 780 389 650
Yorkshire … … … 1,797 1,492 1,467 529 1,000
North-Western … … … 2,651 2,114 2,044 553 950
West Midland … … … 2,006 1,674 1,660 555 725
East Midland … … … 1,997 1,712 1,705 497 800
Eastern … … … 1,406 1,250 1,230 313 850
South Wales … … … 817 700 689 162 400
Western … … … 2,462 2,164 2,019 321 1,400
South-Eastern … … … 2,078 1,853 1,796 462 1,500
Metropolitan … … … 2,837 2,242 2,245 379 1,050
Scottish … … … 1,631 1,418 1,381 270 500
*Including testing stations authorised to test only 2 wheeled vehicles.

In total there are about 16,000 garages currently authorised to test passenger cars of which approximately 4,400 have already been approved to the new requirements and a further 9,100 or so have submitted their plans. In addition, approximately 1,600 applications to join the scheme under the new requirements are being considered.

I shall shortly be reviewing the position of those authorised garages which do not yet conform to the new standards. In doing so I shall bear in mind the need to ensure that there is sufficient testing capacity available to maintain an adequate service throughout the country.