§ Mr. TredinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many spot checks are made each year on commercial vehicles to ensure that they comply with exhaust emission standards; what percentage of these have been found in the last available two years to be above the legal limit; and if he will make a statement. [6804]
§ Mr. BowisI have asked the chief executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Ron Oliver to Mr David Tredinnick, dated 29 November 1996:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of spot checks which are made each year on commercial vehicles to ensure that they comply with exhaust emission standards; and what percentage of these have been found in the last available two years to be above the legal limit.Instrumented checks using calibrated test equipment are carried out by the Inspectorate's vehicle examiners. Vehicles found to have exhaust emissions in excess of the legal limit are issued with a prohibition. Details of checks on commercial vehicles for the last two financial years are as follows:
§ Mr. WattsMy Department's published appraisal guidance advises that, where comprehensive traffic calming measures are proposed for an area to be bypassed, the effects of the scheme are tested with and without the traffic calming measures.
The evidence suggests that traffic calming measures can enhance substantially the amenity of the bypassed town centre but generally have little impact on the volume of traffic using bypasses. No specific research has been commissioned into the economic consequences of town centre traffic calming on a bypass.