§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what provision he makes for the reporting of smoky emissions from on-road buses and for allowing such vehicles to be called in for immediate testing.
§ Mr. McLoughlinComplaints to the Department's traffic area offices about smoky buses are followed up, if sufficient details of the vehicle and the incident are provided, by a letter to the operator. This asks him to have the vehicle checked and to report to the Department on the action taken. If there are persistent complaints about a particular operator or vehicle, the vehicle inspectorate will arrange to visit his premises. This could result in a vehicle being prohibited from use until a defect was rectified.
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§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what current procedures exist for the testing of exhaust emissions of bus fleets.
§ Mr. McLoughlinBus operators are responsible for ensuring that their vehicles comply with the emissions provisions in the Construction and Use Regulations. The density of diesel smoke from buses is checked visually by the vehicle inspectorate at annual roadworthiness tests and also at spot checks at the roadside and at operators' premises.