HC Deb 25 February 1994 vol 238 cc470-6W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many people are employed within each operational region of the Vehicle Inspectorate on(a) vehicle testing and (b) road transport enforcement; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will make a statement listing the testing fee scales currently operated by the Vehicle Inspectorate.

Mr. Key

I have asked the Vehicle Inspectorate chief executive to write to the hon. Member with this detailed information.

Letter from Ron Oliver to Mr. Brian Donohoe, dated 23 February 1994:

Vehicle Inspectorate stuffing and costs

The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your recent questions about the Vehicle Inspectorate. In all you asked five questions. One of these related to the future status of VI's testing stations and will be answered by Mr. Key.

The information relating to the remaining four questions is attached as follows:

  • Annex 1: VI testing stations by region following the Inspectorate's reorganisation on 1 November 1993.
  • Annex 2: Staffing and costs by district prior to 1 November 1993 (staffing expressed in whole time equivalents).
  • Annex 3: Current test fees.
  • Annex 4: Staffing by Vehicle Testing (VT) and Road Traffic Enforcement (RTE) regions.

I hope you find this information useful. If you have any additional questions please write to me at the above address.

Vehicle inspectorate testing stations by region

West Scotland

  • Bishopbriggs
  • Lochgilphead
  • Fort William
  • Inverness
  • Newton Stewart
    • 471
  • Kirkwall
  • Lairg
  • Lerwick
  • Portree
  • Stornoway
  • Wick
  • Kilmarnock
  • Dumfries

East Scotland

  • Aberdeen
  • Livingston
  • Berwick-upon-Tweed
  • East Fortune
  • Charlesfield
  • Keith
  • Perth
  • Kirkcaldy
  • Montrose

North West

  • Carlisle
  • Heywood
  • Steeton
  • Workington
  • Kirkham
  • Barrow
  • Milnthorpe

North East

  • Darlington
  • Newcastle
  • Scarborough
  • Leeds
  • Walton

Merseyside and North Wales

  • Wrexham
  • Caernarvon
  • Bromborough
  • Liverpool
  • Bredbury

North Midlands

  • Sheffield
  • Doncaster
  • Derby
  • Nottingham
  • Beverley

West Midlands

  • Stoke
  • Shrewsbury
  • Wolverhampton
  • Birmingham

East Midlands Grimsby

  • Leicester
  • Peterborough
  • Grimsby
  • Grantham
  • Weedon

East

  • Chelmsford
  • Ipswich
  • Norwich
  • Crimplesham
  • Royston

South Wales

  • Kidderminster
  • Ammanford
  • Haverfordwest
  • Hereford
  • Llantrisant
  • Llanrystyd
  • Llandrindod Wells
  • Pontypool

South West

  • Bristol
  • Calne
  • Exeter
  • Taunton
  • South Molton
  • Gloucester
  • Plymouth
  • St. Austell
  • Redruth

South Central

  • Leighton Buzzard
  • Poole
  • Salisbury
  • Bicester
  • Newbury
  • Southampton
  • Cowes

London

  • Edmonton
  • Purfleet
  • Yeading
  • Mitcham

South East

  • Canterbury
  • Guildford
  • Hastings
  • Lancing
  • Gillingham

Analysis of staffing and operational costs pre-November 1993 Vehicle testing and enforcement
Spend £ Staffing
Carlisle 191,316 16.15
Bishopbriggs 368,322 31.52
Livingston 324,764 26.53
Inverness 174,611 11.21
Kilmarnock 155,263 14.10
Aberdeen 143,794 12.94
Perth 176,841 15.59
Scottish GMO 51,880 3.00
Scottish total 1,586,591 131.04
Derby 183,936 16.84
Bredbury 355,218 34.08
Heywood 380,824 34.67
Kirkham 351,395 33.17
Liverpool 303,418 32.79
Wrexham 348,493 31.16
North West GMO 42,797 3.00
North West total 1,966,081 185.71
Nottingham 268,355 23.09
Beverley 165,193 14.19
Walton 236,361 18.97
Doncaster 162,080 12.52
Grimsby 133,695 19.62
Sheffield 206,076 14.42
Leeds 385,201 34.22
Darlington 265,789 23.32
Newcastle 253,708 22.08
North East GMO 49,482 2.75
North East total 2,127,940 185.18
Kidderminster 253,372 22.89
Birmingham 343,941 31.08
Wolverhampton 301,692 27.57
Stoke 441,958 37.29
Llantrisant 258,628 21.48
Pontypool 143,024 12.40
Ammanford 172,672 15.04
Wales Mid GMO 47,602 3.00
West Midlands and South Wales total 1,962,889 170.75
Southampton 256,210 21.66
Newbury 152,105 13.08
Poole 205,310 17.62
Bristol 380,822 34.72
Exeter 313,527 26.08
Plymouth 207,013 16.00
Gloucester 124,762 12.87
Bicester 141,899 13.18
South West GMO 45,298 2.80

Spend £ Staffing
South West total 1,826,946 158.01
Purfleet 359,021 32.33
Edmonton 359,750 29.49
Leicester 205,678 19.35
Weedon 184,781 18.81
Grantham 168,092 15.93
Chelmsford 198,745 18.62
Royston 193,161 15.81
Leighton Buzzard 146,178 15.60
Norwich 190,383 17.62
Peterborough 277,252 27.78
Ipswich 185,965 17.82
East GMO 54,626 2.00
East total 2,523,632 231.16
Yeading 422,591 33.00
Mitcham 314,421 25.00
Canterbury 155,972 13.54
Gillingham 185,931 16.29
Hastings 111,341 9.84
Lancing 160,131 14.05
Guildford 188,422 16.62
South East GMO 51,686 2.00
South East total 1,590,495 130.34
Vehicle testing and enforcement total 13,584,574 1,192.19

Traffic enforcement
Spend £ Staffing
Edinburgh 117,173 9.00
Glasgow 85,342 6.00
Perth 61,868 4.00
Scottish EMO 71,201 8.00
Scottish Total 335,584 27.00
Manchester 96,299 8.00
Preston 96,837 9.00
Carlisle 53,372 4.00
Warrington 82,371 7.00
North West EMO 131,645 8.50
North West Total 460,524 36.50
Leeds 81,820 7.00
Brigg 95,563 8.00
Gateshead 102,454 8.00
Sutton in Ashfield 101,594 7.00
North East EMO 119,104 13.08
North East Total 500,535 43.08
Cobridge 70,595 6.00
Cardiff 105,049 9.00
Worcester 73,361 6.00
Birmingham 112,253 8.00
West Midland and South West EMO 162,872 13.08
West Midland and South West Total 524,130 42.08
Bristol 73,397 6.00
Poole 100,439 7.00
Plymouth 80,917 6.00
Reading 76,559 6.00
Western EMO 100,103 10.00
South Western Total 431,415 35.00
Grantham 77,584 5.00

Spend £ Staffing
Weedon 63,981 5.00
Aylesbury 75,279 8.00
Norwich 93,392 7.00
Harwich 98,865 8.16
Eastern EMO 120,749 12.81
East Total 529,850 43.97
Uckfield 73,170 5.00
Dover 77,520 5.00
Maidstone 65,421 5.00
Chessington 135,461 10.00
Belvedere 124,837 9.00
Stanmore 12,413 0.00
South East and Metropolitan EMO 133,521 10.68
South East Total 622,343 44.68
Traffic Enforcement Total 404,381 272.31

Total vehicle and testing enforcement
Spend £ Staffing
308,489 25.15
453,664 37.52
386,632 30.53
174,611 11.21
155,263 14.10
143,794 12.94
178,641 15.59
123,081 11.00
1,922,175 158.04
280,235 24.84
452,055 43.08
434,196 36.67
433,766 40.17
303,418 32.79
348,493 31.16
174,442 11.50
2,426,605 222.21
350,175 30.09
280,756 22.19
338,835 26.97
263,854 19.52
133,895 19.62
208,076 14.42
385,201 34.22
285,789 23.32
253,708 22.08
168,586 15.83
2,628,475 228.26
323,967 28.89
448,990 40.08
375,053 33.57
554,211 45.29
258,628 21.48
143,024 12.40
172,672 15.04
210,474 16.08
2,487,019 212.83
329,607 27.66
252,544 20.08
286,227 23.62
457,381 40.72
313,527 26.08
207,013 16.00

Spend £ Staffing
124,782 12.87
141,899 13.18
145,401 12.80
2,258,361 190.01
436,605 37.33
423,731 34.49
280.957 25.35
278,173 25.81
266,957 24.09
198,745 18.62
193,161 15.81
146,178 15.60
190,383 17.62
277,252 27.78
185,965 17.82
175,375 14.81
3,053,482 275.13
495,761 38.00
391,941 30.00
221,393 18.54
321,392 26.29
236,178 18.84
172,544 14.05
188,422 16.62
185,207 12.88
2,212,838 175.02
16,988,955 1,464.50

Notes:

  1. 1. Allocations of VI staffing between testing and enforcement divisions can be carried out on the basis of the management accounts produced for same period ie testing 55 per cent. enforcement 45 per cent.
  2. 2. Operational costs are those quoted on the October district/sector unit cost analysis.
  3. 3. On 1 November 1993 VI split its operational work beween two new divisions: vehicle testing (VT) and road transport enforcement (RTE). VT created a regional structure based on 14 regions. RTE reorganised into 23 areas in integrating traffic and roadworthiness enforcement work.
  4. 4. GMO = Group Managers Office. EMO = Enforcement Managers Office.

Current Test Fees
Test fee1 £ Re-test fee £
Heavy goods vehicles (HGV)
Motor vehicles
2 axle 32.70 16.60
3 axle 33.70
4 or more axles 34.70
Trailers
1 axle 16.70 8.30
2 axle 17.10
3 or more axles 17.90
Clearance of prohibition by partial inspection
Motor vehicle 16.60
Trailers 8.30
Public Service Vehicle
9–12 passenger seats 28.20 14.10
13+ passenger seats 40.30 19.80
Clearance of prohibition by partial inspection
9–12 passenger seats 14.10
13+ passenger seats 19.80
C.O.I.F.

Test fee1 £ Re-test fee £
Examination (inclusive of tilt test) 129.00
Tilt re-test 129.00
Examination re-test 15.40
A. D.R.
Motor vehicle (excluding annual test fee) 98.80
Trailer (excluding annual test fee) 98.00
T. I. R.
Initial inspection 62.60
Re-inspection 43.70
1Re-test after failure (within 14 days of initial inspection).

January 1994 staffing analysis
Staffing
VT division
Region
West Scotland 39
East Scotland 40
North East 60
North West 53
Merseyside and North Wales 62
North Midlands 55
South Wales 47
West Midlands 60
East Midlands 53
South West 58
South Central 48
London 70
East 54
South East 44
VT total 743
RTE division
Group
Scotland and North West 170
West Midlands and South Wales 99
South East and West 187
North East and East 214
RTE total 670
VI summary
Division
VT 743
RTE 670
VI total 1,413

Note: VI also employs 316 staff at its headquarters in Bristol and Swansea working in VT, RTE and central services.