§ Mr. Madelasked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to prescribe procedures for conducting appeals against refusals to remove prohibitions from larger passenger vehicles.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyI have today laid regulations before Parliament to prescribe procedures for these appeals, which were provided for in section 31 of the Transport Act 1985. These regulations also rationalize existing subordinate legislation on:—
- (i) appeals against refusals to remove prohibitions from goods vehicles;
- (ii) appeals against refusals to issue certificates of initial fitness and public service vehicles certificates of conformity; and
- (iii) circumstances in which vehicles may be driven in contravention of a prohibition without committing an offence.
The new regulations prescribe time limits of 14 days for appeals against refusals to remove prohibitions, and 28 days for appeals against refusals to issue certificates of initial fitness and public service vehicle certificates of conformity. The regulations require all appeals to be lodged at the Department's Goods Vehicle Centre/Public Service Vehicle Centre, Swansea.