HC Deb 28 January 1977 vol 924 cc807-9W
Mr. Michael Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Transport in how many of the seven complaints made against his Department, which were the subject of investigation by the Parliamentary Com-

for each of the last three years (a) how many vehicles were stopped for weighing, and of these how many were foreign vehicles, (b) how many were found to be overloaded, (c) how many summonses were issued, (d) how many prosecutions were successful, (e) what was the average fine imposed, and (f) how many of the vehicles successfully prosecuted belonged to private haulage concerns.

Mr. Horam

The figures are given below, with the qualifications noted. The level of overloading should not be assumed as generally applicable, since the more likely vehicles are selected for checking. The differences between number overloaded and number summonsed represents warnings for minor overloads. No separate figures are available of the prosecution of private hauliers, because the operators' licensing system does not distinguish between hauliers and own account operators, or between the private and public sectors of haulage.

missioner between 10th September 1976 and 31st December 1976 a completed investigation has shown maladministration; and in how many of these cases the Department has still to rectify a complaint which the Parliamentary Commissioner had accepted as having some basis of maladministration.

Mr. William Rodgers

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration found elements of maladministration in five of the complaints against my Department on which he reported between 10th September and 31st December 1976. Rectification has been made in three of them. In one of the remaining cases an ex gratia payment is being arranged; in the other payment of certain court costs has been offered.