§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how often checks are made to ensure that motorists with faulty exhaust pipes are prevented from releasing toxins into the atmosphere; [168873]
(2) what checks are in place to ensure motorists with faulty exhaust pipes are prevented from releasing toxins into the atmosphere; [168874]
(3) how many people in (a) the Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside, (c) the North East and (d) the UK have been found guilty of driving vehicles with noxious exhausts in each year since 1997. [168875]
§ Mr. JamiesonEmissions performance is checked in MOT tests, which in the case of cars are carried out three years after registration, and then every year thereafter. The MOT test includes a visual check of the exhaust system and, for most vehicles, a measurement of the concentration of exhaust gases that indicate whether or not the vehicle is being appropriately maintained.
In addition, roadside spot checks are carried out intermittently by the Department's Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), and by certain local authorities with particular air quality problems, to help promote compliance.
There are no statistics available which record emissions offences separately from other minor offences under the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986. The best indication of non-compliance is given by MOT test failure rates, although this is not readily available by geographical area. The MOT emissions test failure rates for the whole of GB are given in the following table.
MOT emissions failures as a percentage of vehicles tested at MOT stations Percentage Conventional petrol Catalyst petrol Diesel 1997–98 7.1 2.8 8.5 1998–99 6.4 3.3 7.4 1999–2000 5.6 2.9 5.9 2000–01 4.3 2.6 6.1 2001–02 3.1 2.6 5.5 2002–03 6.7 2.5 5.0 2003–04 1— 1— 1— 1 Not available.