§ Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Transport what are his current proposals for the future ownership and operation of the Woolwich ferry after the abolition of the Greater London council.
394Wmay fail the tests for reasons not connected with road safety. Failure rates at the test do not therefore necessarily indicate the mechanical condition of vehicles in service.
The number of vehicles which failed the test at the first attempt is as follows:
Wales 1983–84 Operator Total Number of Tests Number of Failures Per cent. NCB 1,368 469 34 Local Authority 518 195 38 Private 2,894 1,423 49 These results take no account of vehicles which passed after minor repairs were carried out at the testing stations. Taking those vehicles into account the number failed were as follows:
Operator Number of Failures Per cent. NCB 132 10 Local Authority 56 11 Private 938 32
§ Mr. Fryasked the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the reply by his hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, 14 January, Official Report, column 49, if he will give the figures for the pass rate in the passenger service vehicle test which incorporate passes obtained after immediate rectification of faults; if he will explain the term "following immediate rectification of faults"; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. David MitchellWhere a vehicle presented for test fails for minor defects the examiner may allow the operator to rectify the defects on the spot and present the vehicle again forthwith when it can be given a "pass after rectification".
Larger operators are generally better placed to take advantage of this system for their vehicles are more often tested on their own premises. The initial pass rate for private operators compares favourably with the pass rate for other operators and is about average for the whole PSV fleet. The figures are as follows:
§ Mrs. ChalkerAppropriate arrangements to ensure the continued free operation of the ferry will be made in the light of our consultations.