HC Deb 07 February 1985 vol 72 cc643-4W
Mr. Caborn

asked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what action he is proposing to take arising from the reference in the annual report of the traffic commissioner for the south east traffic area to the shortage of examiners having hindered an acceptable level of enforcement;

(2) whether he is proposing to take any action from the reference in the annual reports of the traffic commissioners for the eastern, south Wales and west midland traffic areas concerning the lack of recruitment of examiners;

(3) whether he is proposing to take any action arising from the reference in the annual report of the traffic commissioner for the Scottish traffic area to recruitment of examiners not having kept pace with the work or having dealt with backlogs;

(4) whether he is proposing to take any action arising from the reference in the annual report of the traffic commissioners for the eastern traffic area to the decrease in prohibitions resulting from spot checks being probably due to fewer checks rather than better standards of maintenance;

(5) whether he is proposing to take any action arising from the reference in the annual report of the traffic commissioner for the Scottish traffic area to the shortage of vehicle examiners dangerously limiting control on standards of vehicle safety.

Mrs. Chalker

Recruitment of vehicle examiners was temporarily suspended while the Government considered the scope for greater efficiency of the heavy goods and public service vehicle testing. This led to a shortage of vehicle examiners in some traffic areas during 1983–84. When the decision not to proceed with the transfer to the private sector was announced in July 1983, a recruitment campaign was immediately organised. Thirty seven new vehicle examiners were recruited and trained, but were only beginning to take up posts at the end of 1983–84, the period to which the traffic commissioners' reports relate. Further recruitment is now in progress to fill another 40 posts, which will bring the vehicle examiner strength well up to complement by mid-1985.