§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many bus vehicle inspectors are in post in each traffic region. [152002]
§ Mr. HillThe Vehicle Examiners and Traffic Examiners employed by the Vehicle Inspectorate check Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), Passenger Service Vehicles (PSVs) and other road vehicles for roadworthiness, emissions and compliance with drivers' hours and other traffic legislation. Vehicle Examiners also carry out standards control checks 55W at MOT testing stations and support the Traffic Commissioners in their operator licensing functions. The total number of Vehicle Examiners and Traffic Examiners
Enforcement Group Number of Vehicle Examiners (VE) Number of Traffic Examiners (TE) VE resource deployed on PSV work TE resource deployed on PSV work Scottish 26 17 2.0 1.7 North Eastern 48 29 3.3 3.2 North Western1 42 25 2.9 2.7 West Midlands 26 17 1.4 1.3 South Wales 14 9 1.4 0.8 Eastern 41 28 2.6 2.4 South Eastern and Metropolitan 39 29 2.3 3.4 Western 40 21 2.2 2.4 Total 276 175 18.1 17.9 1 Including North Wales
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many buses were inspected by bus vehicle inspectors in the West Midlands Traffic Commission area in the(a) 1999–2000 and (b) 2000–01 financial year to date; and how many were found to be defective in each year. [151999]
§ Mr. HillVehicle Examiners (VEs) and Traffic Examiners (TEs) employed by the Vehicle Inspectorate check buses and coaches at the roadside and at operators' premises for roadworthiness, emissions, weight and compliance with drivers' hours and other traffic legislation. Where serious defects are found, or offences detected, an immediate or delayed prohibition notice may be issued and the offence may be reported for prosecution. The tables show the number of passenger service vehicles checked in the West Midlands Traffic Area and the enforcement action taken in 1999–2000 and in the half year to the end of September 2000.
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Results of PSV spot and fleet roadworthiness checks and emission spot checks Spot and fleet checks Emission checks Number of vehicles examined 1999–2000 2,634 — Half year 2000–01 1,068 — Spot check prohibitions 1999–2000 Number of checks 2,195 664 Percentage 10.3 0.6 Half year 2000–01 Number of checks 880 143 Percentage 14.1 1.4 Fleet check prohibitions 1999–2000 Number of checks 439 — Percentage 11.8 — Half year 2000–01 Number of checks 188 — Percentage 4.8 — in post in each Enforcement Group Area in 1999–2000 and the equivalent resource deployed on PSVs are shown in the table.
PSV traffic enforcement examinations, weighing and offences prohibited and prosecuted 1999–2000 Half year 2000–01 UK Foreign UK Foreign Number examined (inc. number weighed) 1,822 71 933 68 Number weighed 85 0 47 2 Offences found and action taken: Drivers' hours tachographs and records Report for prosecution 60 — 149 — Convicted 52 — 148 — Prohibited (foreign only) — 0 — 2 Overloading Prohibited 0 0 1 0 Other Report for prosecution 9 — 23 — Convicted 8 — 10 —