§ Lord Mason of Barnsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the result of the survey of unroadworthy vehicles on garage forecourts carried out by the Director of Consumer and Environmental Services in the Barnsley Metropolitan Borough area in co-operation with the Department of Transport and the Department of Trade on 5th, 11th and 12th November 1991; how many vehicles were found to be unroadworthy; and what amendments are required to the road traffic legislation to curtail the sale and supply of such unroadworthy vehicles.
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraThirty-one vehicles out of the 49 targeted by trading standards officers were found to be unroadworthy. The Road Traffic Act 1988 makes it an offence to sell an unroadworthy vehicle or to offer such a vehicle for sale. Offences are normally prosecuted by trading standards officers. The Road Traffic Act 1991 includes a provision which makes it easier to obtain convictions because trade sellers of vehicles will have to identify positively any vehicles which are unroadworthy. I believe this strengthening of the law will help to curtail the sale of unroadworthy vehicles. No further change to legislation is planned.