§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if local authority DOT—approved testing facilities will continue to test Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles to MOT standards. [25354]
§ Mr. NorrisAny local authority MOT testing stations must test to MOT standards. The Government have announced that taxis and private hire vehicles will in future be treated by suitably equipped MOT testing stations, and is currently considering whether taxis would be subject either to more frequent or more rigorous inspections than under the current MOT scheme.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if private hire vehicle operators with their own garages will be permitted to undertake MOT testing for private hire vehicles. [25355]
§ Mr. NorrisThis is permissible at present. The criterion that any prospective MOT tester must satisfy is that they have the necessary skills and facilities to MOT test vehicles. The issue of whether or not they might test their own vehicles as well as others is irrelevant to that question.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if higher standards of MOT testing are required for taxis, public hire vehicles and other public service vehicles. [25356]
§ Mr. NorrisSome licensed taxis are currently exempt from MOT testing on the basis that they are subject to an annual licensing inspection carried out by the licensing authority which is at least as rigorous as the MOT test. In most cases licensing authorities who test taxis require comfort and cleanliness to be tested as well as the roadworthiness of the vehicle. These additional aspects are also included in the annual MOT tests of public service vehicles. Where the licensing authority does not test taxis or private hire vehicles, vehicles are subject to the MOT test as for private cars.