§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has any plans to undertake a major review of the MoT test certificate procedure; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyA review of the MoT testing scheme was completed last year.
Recommendations relating to technical standards and disciplinary action are being discussed with the motor trade. These will lead to significant improvements to the standard of testing.
Other measures already introduced include improvements to the security printing of MoT certificates and tighter security at MoT garages. The Department has improved its information about trading standards offences so that MoT examiners who are convicted of such offences can be dealt with under the Department's disciplinary arrangements.
In total MoT authorisation was withdrawn from 127 garages last year compared with 73 in the previous year. We are continuing to discuss with the trading standards organisations further measures to combat fraudulent use of test certificates.