HC Deb 27 January 1988 vol 126 cc255-7W
Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many vehicle examiners were employed by his Department in the south Wales traffic area for 1986–87; and what was the number of public service vehicles and goods vehicles for which they were responsible.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The figures for the vehicle inspectorate districts that cover approximately the south Wales traffic area are as follows:

in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland who are citizens of another member state of the EEC; how many of these citizens of each of these states are in each of the areas listed above; and of these how many have the right to vote in (i) parliamentary elections and (ii) local government elections in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Douglas Hogg

[holding answer 18 January 1988]: Information on the estimated numbers of nationals of other European Community countries usually resident in the t sited Kingdom is given in the table. Nationals of EC countries other than the Republic of Ireland do not have the right to vote in parliamentary or local elections. It is estimated that some 95 per cent. of citizens of the Republic of Ireland who are resident in the United Kingdom are aged 18 or over, and therefore are entitled to register to vote in parliamentary elections and, if resident in Great Britain, in local government elections; those resident in Northern Ireland have the right to vote in local government elections provided they were included in the electoral register published in 1962 and meet the residence qualifications required. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, has indicated the Government's intention to introduce legislation to amend the qualifications for local government elections in Northern Ireland in order to align them with those in Great Britain.

1986–87
Vehicle examiners in post 23
Public service vehicles over one year old 3,509
Heavy goods vehicles over one year old 27,537

Mr. Gareth Wardell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what were the numbers of vehicle examiners in post at May 1987, by traffic area.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The vehicle inspectorate is organised into 53 districts, grouped into four regions. Statistics are not kept by traffic area. The information by regions is as follows:

Number of vehicle examiners in post (May 1987)
Number
South East Region 183
South Wales and West Region 115
North Region 132
Scottish Region 54
TOTAL 484