HL Deb 17 December 1997 vol 584 cc92-3WA
The Earl of Haddington

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer given by the Baroness Hayman on 30 October (WA 265), whether they are able to delay or will consider delaying the final implementation date of their single vehicle approval specifications under the Motor Vehicle (Approval) Regulations 1996 beyond 1 January 1998; and whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of all the proposed amendments to the regulations dated 1 July 1997.

Baroness Hayman

The European Commission has instructed us to defer implementing the proposals set out in our recent consultation. This instruction is part of a legal procedure that governs the making of technical regulations which could have trade implications within the EU. We remain confident that the British Single Vehicle Approval scheme does not have any adverse effect on the internal market, whilst removing barriers to trade with other parts of the world. Subject to resolution of these matters with the Commission, the date on which we now expect the regulations to come into force is 1 May 1998.

Our proposals to amend the Motor Vehicle (Approval) Regulations 1996 were included with a consultation letter dated 24 September 1997. I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

The Earl of Haddington

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they are taking or have taken to prevent vehicles (cars and motorcycles) that have failed to reach a production standard in the country of manufacture, and second-hand or nearly new vehicles, being "dumped" in the United Kingdom, other than genuine personal imports; and what steps they propose taking to prevent the abuse of single vehicle approval under the Motor Vehicle (Approval) Regulations 1996 by such imports.

Baroness Hayman

Most cars must be type-approved before they can enter service on public roads in Great Britain. The main exceptions are personally imported and amateur-built vehicles. Cars originating in the European Union usually conform with either an EU-wide EC Whole Vehicle Type Approval or a national type approval. Compliance is confirmed by a Certificate of Conformity or a Mutual Recognition Certificate respectively, which must be produced at the time of first registration in Great Britain. For cars that are not the subject of a European type approval, the personal import exemption must be demonstrated by evidence such as a registration or insurance document issued in the exporting country and naming the individual as the keeper of the car. The production standard in the country of origin for cars that have not been type-approved in the EU is not strictly relevant for use in Great Britain. Such cars must comply with the appropriate standards in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and the Road Vehicles (Lighting) Regulations 1989 both as amended. That might require modification of the vehicle.

The proposed Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) Scheme has been devised to minimise the scope for abuse. We intend that all cars up to three years old that are not type-approved will have to undergo an SVA inspection irrespective of who imports them. Cars between three and ten years old not personally imported would also have to undergo SVA. Individuals who can prove they have lived abroad for at least 12 months and used their car there for at least six months will be exempt from SVA if their vehicle is over three years old; if they cannot produce evidence of this, the car will have to undergo an SVA inspection.

Northern Ireland has, or, in the case of SVA plans to have, a similar regulatory framework.

Motorcycles are not currently subject to EU-wide type approval, national type approval, or single vehicle approval procedures, so there are no personal import exemptions for this category of vehicle. All motorcycles must comply with the appropriate standards in the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 and the Road Vehicles (Lighting) Regulations 1989 as amended. A framework for EU-wide whole vehicle type approval for two and three-wheeled vehicles was established in 1992 and will begin to take effect from June 1999. Enabling legislation for the UK was made in 1995 and we expect to make proposals for implementation dates and for a complementary single vehicle approval scheme during 1998.