Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 17 March 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 20 March 2009. It was answered by Jim Fitzpatrick (Labour) on Friday, 20 March 2009 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Motor Vehicles: Safety

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many public service vehicle operators' licences were issued by traffic commissioners in each area in respect of stretch limousines in (a) 2003 and (b) 2008; and how many such licences related to limousines able to carry (i) more than eight and (ii) eight or fewer passengers.

Answer: There are no records of limousine operators for 2003 as our business system does not differentiate between types of vehicles operated on a PSV licence at that time.In recent years we have started keeping separate records for limousine operators and the information for operator licences granted in 2008 shows that 116 restricted licences and 11 standard national licences have been issued. All of these licences have limousine conditions attached and the operators applied to run vehicles with eight passenger seats or fewer.Any operator who applied for a licence to run a limousine with more than eight passenger seats is not recorded as they are run under normal PSV regulations and these vehicles should have a COIF (Certificate of Initial Fitness).

Secondary information