HC Deb 26 January 1995 vol 253 cc370-3W
Ms Walley

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many full-time vehicle examiners were employed by the Vehicle Inspectorate on(a) 1 April for each year since 1989 and (b) at present;

(2) how many full-time traffic examiners were employed by the Vehicle Inspectorate on (a) 1 April for each year since 1989 and (b) at present;

(3) how many heavy goods vehicles were examined by (a) traffic examiners and (b) vehicle examiners by traffic area in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and how many received (a) prohibition or (b) defect notices.

Mr. Norris

These are operational matters for the Vehicle Inspectorate Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Ron Oliver to Ms Joan Walley, dated 25 January 1995:

Number of Vehicle Examiners and Traffic Examiners The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your 2 questions concerning the number of full-time Vehicle Examiners and Traffic

Numbers of Vehicle and Traffic Examiners employed by the Vehicle Inspectorate
Operating division Staff discipline April 1990 April 1991 April 1992 April 1993 April 1994 December 1994
Enforcement Vehicle examiners 1 1 1 1 244 241
Traffic examiners 2 160 175 170 168 158
Testing Vehicle examiners 1 1 1 1 180 138
Vehicle inspectorate total Vehicle examiners 474 477 465 436 424 379
Traffic examiners 2 160 175 170 168 158
Notes:
1 The separate Testing and Enforcement Divisions were not formed until November 1993.
2 Traffic Examiners were not part of the Vehicle Inspectorate in 1990.
1 Traffic examiner grades are not employed on vehicle testing work.

Letter from Ron Oliver to Mrs. Joan Walley MP, dated 25 January 1995:

Heavy Goods Vehicles Examinations: Prohibition and Defect Notices. The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question concerning the number of heavy goods vehicles examined by (a) traffic examiners and (b) vehicle examiners by Traffic Area in each of the last 5 years for which figures are available; and how many received (a) prohibition notices or (b) defect notices. The attached 5 tables show the total number of heavy goods vehicles examined by Vehicle and Traffic Examiners in each of the

Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) examined and prohibited by vehicle Examiners; and HGVs examined and prohibited by Traffic Examiners in 1989–90
Traffic area HGVs examined by VEs Number receiving prohibitions Number receiving defect notices HGVs examined by TEs Number receiving prohibitions
North Eastern 19,509 1,902 not available 48,777 1,075
North Western 22,468 4,880 not available 42,465 1,073
West Midland 11,212 1,113 not available 23,570 1,270
Eastern 27,285 2,642 not available 41,220 1,425
South Wales 5,994 1,316 not available 21,678 220
Western 12,103 1,467 not available 20,203 1,161
South Eastern 12,153 1,483 not available 36,392 1,640
Metropolitan 10,207 1,719 not available 36,392 901
Scottish 21,125 2,527 not available 42,593 637

Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) examined and prohibited by vehicle Examiners; and HGVs examined and prohibited by Traffic Examiners in 1990–91
Traffic area HGVs examined by VEs Number receiving prohibitions Number receiving defect notices HGVs examined by TEs Number receiving prohibitions
North Eastern 27,069 2,937 not available 35,158 1,530
North Western 24,189 2,840 not available 38,443 830
West Midland 11,160 1,040 not available 22,240 651
Eastern 30,198 2,633 not available 31,541 1,096
South Wales 5,755 1,296 not available 20,399 109
Western 16,134 1,988 not available 21,894 1,131
South Eastern 15,559 1,912 not available 33,184 946
Metropolitan 14,601 2,022 not available 33,198 901
Scottish 22,637 3,176 not available 45,083 753

Note: The Metropolitan and South Eastern Traffic Areas were merged from 1990–91.

Examiners employed by the Vehicle Inspectorate on a) 1 April for each year since 1989 and b) at present. The numbers of full-time Vehicle Examiners and Traffic Examiners employed by the Vehicle Inspectorate on 1 April for each year since 1989 and at present are provided in the attached table. last 5 years in each Traffic Area, together with the number of vehicles issued with Prohibitions and, where the information is available, Defect Notices. The number of examinations provided in the tables for Vehicle Examiners cover all roadworthiness inspections apart from those done in connection with accidents or mechanical defect investigations. The prohibitions for these examinations are all for roadworthiness defects. The Traffic Examiner checks concentrate on other legal requirements, not roadworthiness. The prohibitions for this work would all have been issued to vehicles weighed and found to be overloaded.

Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) examined and prohibited by Vehicle Examiners; and HGVs examined and prohibited by Traffic Examiners in 1991–92
Traffic area HGVs examined by VEs Number receiving prohibitions Number receiving defect notices HGVs examined by TEs Number receiving prohibitions
North Eastern 27,829 3,080 not available 52,809 1,515
North Western 30,623 3,547 not available 39,233 947
West Midland 15,344 1,756 not available 20,938 870
Eastern 39,818 4,328 not available 29,918 967
South Wales 7,015 1,313 not available 16,618 306
Western 17,582 2,382 not available 30,688 1,102
South Eastern and Metropolitan 15,768 1,781 not available 39,044 1,584
Scottish 17,748 2,438 not available 37,498 694

Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) examined and prohibited by Vehicle Examiners; and HGVs examined and prohibited by Traffic Examiners in 1992–93
Traffic area HGVs examined by VEs Number receiving prohibitions Number receiving defect notices HGVs examined by TEs Number receiving prohibitions
North Eastern 31,249 2,878 3,738 49,742 976
North Western 36,889 3,902 7,376 40,944 737
West Midland 16,881 1,501 not available 17,239 806
Eastern 37,644 4,110 3,280 52,476 954
South Wales 8,003 1,206 not available 23,456 244
Western 21,687 2,932 1,454 35,370 899
South Eastern and Metropolitan 24,416 2,746 1,713 43,142 1,211
Scottish 19,706 2,806 478 32,756 1,160

Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) examined and prohibited by Vehicle Examiners; and HGVs examined and prohibited by Traffic Examiners in 1993–94
Traffic area HGVs examined by VEs Number receiving prohibitions Number receiving defect notices HGVs examined by TEs Number receiving prohibitions
North Eastern 26,463 3,155 2,763 40,466 987
North Western 34,087 3,634 7,233 31,811 736
West Midland 21,296 1,897 809 19,212 436
Eastern 28,673 3,356 2,894 42,194 639
South Wales 11,372 1,324 383 10,647 444
Western 24,666 3,299 1,625 26,215 714
South Eastern and Metropolitan 20,934 2,380 1,980 36,641 668
Scottish 24,695 3,215 278 30,193 624