§ Mr. SheermanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many tests for vehicle exhaust emissions were conducted in each of the past five years on heavy goods vehicles; [16943]
(2) how many tests for vehicle exhaust emissions were carried out on coaches in each of the past five years; [16944]
(3) how many tests for vehicle exhaust emissions were carried out on buses in each of the past five years. [16896]
§ Mr. NorrisAll heavy goods vehicles, coaches and buses have their emissions checked as part of their annual roadworthiness test. The number of tests has remained fairly constant over the last five years: with 663,757 HGVS and 86,499 buses and coaches being tested on average each year.
In addition, emissions are checked at the roadside as part of the general enforcement checks carried out by the vehicle inspectorate and also at operators' premises as part of maintenance assessments. The number of such checks carried out over the last five years are as follows:
Year HGVs Buses/coaches 1993–94 148,365 37,810 1992–93 146,952 33,023 1991–92 129,850 28,394 1990–91 150,853 27,313 1989–90 119,867 26,991 The 1993–94 figures include 10,589 heavy goods vehicles and 5,165 buses and coaches which had special checks on emissions only.