§ Mr. PawseyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps have been taken by his Department to promote the smoky vehicle hotline; what assessment he has made of how many individual members of the public are aware of its existence; and what additional steps he is prepared to take to publicise its existence.
§ Mr. NorrisThe procedure under which members of the public can report excessively smoky heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles to the Vehicle Inspectorate is explained in detail in a leaflet published in August 1993. I have placed copies in the library.
Copies of the leaflet were sent to local authorities, libraries, citizens advice bureaux, motoring organisations, environmental groups and other interested bodies. The leaflet is currently available on request from both the Department of Transport and the Department of the Environment. The reporting procedure is also explained in a leaflet which has been sent out with all vehicle excise licence renewal notices since February 1994.
The Vehicle Inspectorate received almost 3,000 hotline calls between April 1993 and March 1994. We are committed to continuing to run the hotline and to encouraging people to make good use of it.