§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the total number of journeys made each year by public service vehicles. [35350]
§ Mr. NorrisThe total number of passenger journeys made each year on public service vehicles, up to 1993–94, is listed in tables 10.5 and 11.1, in the HMSO transport statistics report "Bus and Coach Statistics Great Britain: 1993–94". These figures are collected in annual surveys of public service vehicles.
Passenger journey data on non-local services—tours, excursions, express services and private hire, shown in table 10.5—were not collected after 1990–91 as they were considered less reliable than those for local bus and coach services.
§ Mr. DenhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many roadside examinations of public service vehicles took place in the most recent year; and how many were found to have safety defects. [35349]
§ Mr. NorrisThis is an operational matter for the Vehicle Inspectorate Agency. I have asked the chief executive to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ron Oliver to Mr. John Denham dated 18 July 1995:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question on the number of roadside examinations on public service vehicles.In 1994/95 29,831 public service vehicles were inspected at roadworthiness spot checks (including special checks on smoke emissions). Of these 3,315 were found to have defects which warranted the issue of a prohibition notice.