Goods Vehicles (Hansard, 13 March 1991)

§ Mr. Amos
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many articulated vehicles plated at a train weight exceeding 31 tonnes and licensed as private light goods are specified as authorised vehicles in standard international licences issued to United Kingdom operators under the Goods Vehicles (Operators' Licences, Qualifications and Fees) Regulation 1984; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Chope
Licensing of a heavy goods vehicle at the light goods vehicle rate is permitted when the vehicle is not being used to carry goods for hire or reward or in connection with a trade or business. Operator licensing does not apply to such vehicles.

§ Mr. Amos
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what evidence he has of United Kingdom articulated vehicles registered as private/light goods operating for hire or reward at their plated weights in EC member states; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Chope
I am aware of the concerns of the Road Haulage Association in this respect.
The Department does not collect data on vehicle excise duty paid by United Kingdom vehicles used in other EC member states. Bilateral agreements with other EC states, 504W and the treaty of Rome, provide for exemption from VED for temporarily imported vehicles registered in other EC states.
It would be an offence for a vehicle registered in the United Kingdom to operate in this country for hire or reward while licensed at less than the appropriate rate of VED. Spot checks on vehicles returning from abroad are carried out periodically.

§ Mr. Amos
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if, in enforcing EC controls on the operation of United Kingdom registered goods vehicles, he will(a) require certificates of private/light goods status for heavy goods vehicles from their operators, (b) make a false declaration of such status an offence and (c) require all articulated vehicles to be registered in accordance with their plated train weight; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Chope
Vehicles are licensed in the United Kingdom on the basis of a declaration by the applicant stating the use to which the vehicle will be put. It is an offence knowingly to make a false or materially misleading statement in an application for a vehicle licence. And it is the responsibility of the keeper to relicense the vehicle in the appropriate tax class should the use of the vehicle be changed during the period of a licence
When registering a goods vehicle the applicant must state the vehicle's gross weight. If, after registration, this changes the applicant is required to notify the licensing authority.

§ Mr. Amos
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many articulated vehicles plated at a train weight exceeding 31 tonnes are registered in the United Kingdom under the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulation 1971 as private/light goods vehicles and thus pay vehicle excise duty at an annual rate of £100 only; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Chope
DVLA records show 827 such vehicles licensed in the private and light goods tax class. Application for a vehicle licence is based on a declaration by the keeper as to the intended use of the vehicle. It is an offence knowingly to make a false or materially misleading declaration in an application for a vehicle licence.

§ Mr. Amos
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will consult foreign Governments to arrange for information on illegal operations by United Kingdom based goods vehicles operating abroad to be passed on to the licensing authorities in the United Kingdom for any action by them; and if he will make a statement;
505W
(2) if he will seek the co-operation of other EC member states to inform him and where practicable to prosecute, under their national law, users of United Kingdom registered vehicles operating in contravention of EC rules; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Chope
EC regulations and the United Kingdom's bilateral agreements with other countries already provide for Governments to notify each other of infringements of laws by the other party's road hauliers.
This information is passed to the traffic commissioners, who are responsible for drivers' and operators' licences and who may consider taking disciplinary action in addition to any prosecutions or other action undertaken by the foreign authorities.