HC Deb 07 December 1993 vol 234 cc135-6W
Mrs. Anne Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport who is carrying out the current survey of staff attitudes at the Vehicle Inspectorate; and what is the cost.

Mr. Key

The current staff attitude survey is being conducted by Peratee Ltd. at a cost of £6,000 plus VAT. Peratee Ltd. are advising the Vehicle Inspectorate on the adoption of total quality management practice. The survey is part of a wider contract the total cost of which is £59,000 + VAT.

Mrs. Anne Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total number of staff employed at the Vehicle Inspectorate for each year since 1990.

Mr. Key

The average number of staff employed by the Vehicle Inspectorate in each of the last three financial years is as follows:

Number
1990–91 1,653
1991–92 11,879
1992–93 1,861
1 This includes 255 staff from the Traffic Enforcement Organisation which was integrated into the inspectorate in April 1991.

Staff numbers are expressed as full-time equivalents.

Mrs. Anne Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total number of vehicles inspected by the Vehicle Inspectorate for each year since 1990.

Mr. Key

This data has been published in the VI Annual Report and Accounts for 1992–93, a copy of which has been deposited in the House of Commons Library. With the exception of five small schemes, the relevant data are summarised in the table.

Inspections 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93
Annual tests
HGV vehicles 778,693 587,252 578,499
HGV trailers 272,117 268,270 266,485
PSVs 85,558 85,907 87,484
HGV notifiable alterations 20,029 15,882 21,498
PSV notifiable alterations 3,102 2,926 2,200
Class IV, V and ambulances 13,397 12,168 13,228
Class VII 81,546 44,484
Roadworthiness enforcement
HGVs inspected at roadside 112,661 117,477 126,370
PSVs inspected at roadside 20,527 21,106 24,895
Private and LGVs inspected at roadside 12,405 35,231 31,176
Inspections 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93
Operator licensing
HGV number of vehicles inspected 59,085 60,974 62,093
PSV number of vehicles inspected 6,786 7,288 8,128
Traffic enforcement
HGVs examined 281,140 266,746 295,124
PSVs examined 32,584 33,778 40,508
Total 1,698,084 1,596,551 1,602,172

Mrs. Anne Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what was the total equipment budget for the Vehicle Inspectorate for each year since 1990.

Mr. Key

The budget for capital expenditure on equipment is summarised below. The budget covers the purchase of testing equipment such as roller brake testers, load simulators and smoke meters. The budget includes spare parts, but does not include staff and other costs involved in maintaining the equipment.

Year Budget
1990–91 1,542,795
1991–92 1,911,100
1992–93 2,110,700