§ Lord Clinton-Davisasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many goods vehicle operators were successfully prosecuted for operating vehicles without authorisation under the Goods Vehicle Operator Licensing Regulations in 1995 and 1996 respectively; and
How many goods vehicle operators were found to be operating without proper authorisation under the Goods Vehicle Operating Licensing Regulations during roadside checks in 1995 and 1996 respectively.
§ Viscount GoschenI have asked the Chief Executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate, Mr. Ron Oliver, to write to the noble Lord.
Letter to Lord Clinton-Davis from the Chief Executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate, Mr. Ron Oliver, dated 19 February 1997.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking how many goods vehicle operators were successfully prosecuted for operating vehicles without authorisation under the Goods Vehicle Operator Licensing Regulations in 1995 and 1996 respectively; and how many goods vehicles were found to be operating without proper authorisation under the regulations during roadside checks in the same period.
Separate figures are not currently available for successful prosecutions against goods vehicle operators for the specific offence of unauthorised use or for the number of goods vehicles found to be operating without a valid operator's licence during roadside checks.
The extent of illegal operations was quantified in a report published in April 1996, of the roadside survey of illegal operators carried out by the Vehicle Inspectorate on behalf of the Department of Transport in October 1995. This indicated that illegal operators accounted for less than 2 per cent. of all miles travelled by goods vehicles.