§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take action to ensure that trailers registered abroad and entering the United Kingdom carrying imported goods are required to meet the standards needed for Department of Transport certificates required of British registered trailers.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIf the hon. Member is referring to plating and test certificates, large trailers from other EC member states must be tested annually, to comply with EC roadworthiness directive 77/143. Foreign trailers must not exceed United Kingdom maximum limits on axle and gross weights. Basic safety standards are also applied, by international conventions. These provisions are enforced by checks of vehicles at ports and at the roadside.