§ Mr. Roger Kingasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received concerning his Department's proposed new test station regulations.
§ Mrs. ChalkerRepresentations have been received from motoring organisations and the motor trade whose views were sought as part of the consultation exercise on the proposed new conditions of appointment to the MOT scheme. These organisations are:
- Motor Agents Association;
- Scottish Motor Trade Association;
- Motor Cycle Association of Great Britain;
- Motor Cycle Retailers Association;
- Garage Equipment Association;
- Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders;
- Royal Automobile Club;
- Automobile Association;
- Vehicle Builders and Repairers Association;
- Association of District Councils;
- Association of Metropolitan Authorities;
- Association of County Councils;
- and British Telecom.
In addition to representations from these bodies, 37 letters have been received from garages and members of the public. A number of these were made following an article in Motor Trader. Thirty-five hon. Members have also written to me about the proposals.
§ Mr. Roger Kingasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) whether, in view of the deferment on the introduction of his Department's proposed new test station regulations, he will consider lifting the embargo on the appointment of new testing centres;
(2) when he expects his Department's proposed new test station regulations to be introduced.
§ Mrs. ChalkerNo specific date has been set for the introduction of new conditions for authorised examiners and there has consequently been no deferment. It remains my intention to make an announcement as soon as consultations with interested bodies are concluded, and agreement on the final form of the conditions is reached. Their introduction will be accompanied by a lifting of the present embargo on new applications for appointment to the MOT scheme. I do not intend to lift the embargo until then.
§ Mr. Roger Kingasked the Secretary of State for Transport what consultations he had with the motor trade when drawing up the proposed new regulations for Ministry of Transport test stations.
§ Mrs. ChalkerMy Department has regular contacts with representatives of the motor trade. The main organisations have been consulted about the new proposals, and my officials held meetings with the trade in autumn 1984. I met the Motor Agents Association for further discussions on 18 December.
§ Mr. Roger Kingasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many copies of the proposed new regulations on MOT test stations were available for distribution from local Ministry of Transport offices at the time of announcement; and if he is satisfied that the local Ministry of Transport offices were fully conversant with the details of the scheme.
§ Mrs. Chalkerconsultations with the motoring organisations and the motor trade are still taking place and 399W no announcement about new conditions of appointment has yet been made. Copies of the final form of the new conditions are not therefore available. The Department's local offices will be sent copies for distribution as necessary as soon as the proposals are finalised.
§ Mr. Roger Kingasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list by car model the number of vehicles that require the services of a jacking bridge of 1.5 tonnes capacity as laid down in the proposed new Ministry of Transport test station regulations.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe majority of cars, with the exception of heavy vehicles such as the Rolls-Royce, do not require a jacking bridge of 1.5 tonnes capacity. However, the MOT test also covers light goods vehicles, ambulances, mobile homes and vans up to 1,525 kg unladen weight, for which all testing stations are required to make provision. A number of these vehicles will be laden at the time of test. It is in recognition of the safety hazard when lifting these vehicles, which now has to be done using supplementary jacks, that jacking bridge capacity has been increased to 1.5 tonnes.
§ Mr. Roger Kingasked the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has received that stipulates a requirement to increase the depth of an inspection pit in a Ministry of Transport test station from 54 in to 60 in as proposed in the new Ministry of Transport test station regulations.
§ Mrs. ChalkerAn increase in the depth of inspection pits from 54 in to 60 in will be conducive to a better examination in view of the difficulty that testers are known to have when inspecting vehicles with low ground clearance, including most cars. I propose that new entrants to the vehicle testing scheme will therefore be required to provide inspection pits with a minimum depth of 60 in. While this will also apply to changes of ownership of a testing station after one year, in the light of representations I have received about the difficulties of altering pits, I am not proposing to ask existing authorised examiners to meet this new requirement.
§ Mr. Roger Kingasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, in view of the extra facilities required for Ministry of Transport test stations, he intends to introduce new testing fees.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe maximum fee chargeable for the MOT test is reviewed annually in consultation with representations of the motor trade. Another review will take place later this year.