§ Mr. MilburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many(a) coaches and (b) heavy goods vehicles have been found to be unsafe in each of the last five years; and how many prosecutions have taken place as a consequence. [34142]
§ Mr. NorrisInformation relating to numbers of prosecutions is contained in Home Office and Scottish Office statistics. The statistics show the number of offences and not the number of vehicles found unsafe. Consequently, the information does not distinguish between road vehicle types.
The relevant figures are shown in the table below:
England and Wales Scotland Year Offences1 Offences prosecuted in Magistrates court Offences2 Offences Prosecuted 1989 389,043 97,351 48,179 10,797 1990 383,715 89,419 47,477 9,897 1991 382,078 91,890 46,765 8,839 1992 381,232 93,504 47,775 7,980 1993 383,382 87,354 51,387 6,557 1 These figures relate to circumstances where a vehicle or vehicle part has been found to be in a dangerous or defective condition including brakes, steering gear, tyres. They also include offences of using a vehicle in a dangerous condition and other related offences. The action taken includes prosecutions (shown separately), vehicle defect rectification notices issued, written warnings and fixed penalty notices issued. 2 The offences covered are offences under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989.