§ Mr. Baldryasked the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with representatives of the 304W transport industry about the weight threshold for the plating and testing of goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerUnder present arrangements, all goods vehices over 1525 kg unladen weight are subject to the Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1982, which require, amongst other things, an annual roadworthiness test at a Department of Transport heavy goods vehicle testing station. Vehicles below this threshold are subject only to the normal MOT test.
The use of an unladen weight threshold for these purposes is inconsistent with other legislation, where gross weights are now commonly used, and it has been put to me by representatives of vehicle body builders that there would be road safety advantages in moving to a gross weight threshold for plating and testing purposes also. My officials have therefore started informal discussions with representatives of the various sectors of the industry about possible ways of securing a change on these lines.
There are a number of implications associated with any change to the plating and testing threshold and any arrangements could not be implemented for some time. Nevertheless, I have broad sympathy with the case for change, and I hope that it will be possible to reach a satisfactory solution acceptable to all parties.
If the present discussions are successful, therefore, I hope to bring forward firm proposals for change in due course.