§ Mrs. Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of(a) buses and (b) heavy goods vehicles, tested by his Department's Vehicles Inspectorate failed the visual smoke check (i) in the annual test and (ii) in roadside checks in the 1988–89 period; and what is his estimate of the total number of vehicles producing excessive smoke in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Atkins[holding answer 12 January 1990]: In 1988–89 1.42 per cent. of PSVs and 1.057 per cent. of HGVs failed the visual smoke check in the annual test. Information concerning vehicles found emitting excessive smoke at roadside spot checks is not available. A random survey of heavy goods vehicles carried out in May 1988 showed 3.6 per cent. were emitting excess smoke. If that were reflected in the vehicle fleet as a whole, approximately 20,000 heavy goods vehicles might be producing excessive smoke in Great Britain. The Department has no figures for Northern Ireland.
§ Mrs. Ann TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State For Transport how many vehicles were(a) banned and (b) received vehicle rectification notices as a result of visual smoke checks in the 1988–89 period.
§ Mr. Atkins[holding answer 12 January 1990]: Following is the information:
- (a) Information is not available to identify the number of vehicles banned for smoke defects.
- (b) The vehicle defect rectification scheme is administered by the police. The Department has no data on this.