§ Mr. LockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many inspectors were employed or engaged by the Vehicle Inspectorate in each of the last 10 years; and how many vehicles were inspected in each year. [90413]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonInformation in a consistent form is available only for the last five years. Prior to that date the data are not available, or could be obtained only at disproportionate costs. The information for the period since 1993–94 is presented in the table.
The Vehicle Inspectorate employs testers to carry out statutory annual tests on heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), passenger service vehicles (PSVs) and some light goods vehicles (LGVs). This is a demand-led activity. Vehicle examiners (VEs) carry out enforcement inspections on all types of vehicles to check their mechanical condition and traffic examiners (TEs) check compliance with traffic regulations including weighing and tachograph charts. The Inspectorate's performance measures have, during the period covered, increasingly encouraged examiners to target those vehicles which are considered most likely to be committing offences. This has increased the effectiveness of the checks in terms of road safety and environmental protection.