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Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions;Vehicle Inspectorate

Answer

Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how frequently the Vehicle Inspectorate are carrying out vehicle checks at Portsmouth and Poole following consultations with the ferry companies; and what is the difference in the level of checks since last year. [27708] Ms Glenda Jackson: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate Agency, Mr. Ron Oliver, to write to my hon. Friend. Letter from Ron Oliver to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 12 February 1998: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how frequently the Vehicle Inspectorate are carrying out vehicle checks at Portsmouth and Poole following consultations with the ferry companies; and what is the difference in the level of checks since last year. During 1996/97 the number of checks were as follows: Portsmouth: 4 per month Poole: 2 per month. We carry out vehicle checks at ports with the agreement of the port authorities and aim to ensure that all ports are treated fairly and equitably in the way we carry out our enforcement activity. Owing to one port requiring us to reduce our activity, we have accordingly regulated vehicle checks at other ports to ensure they are proportionate with the volume of traffic coming in. As a result, the level of checks for 1997/98 is as follows: Portsmouth: 4 per month until July and thereafter reduced to 2 per month Poole: 2 per month until December and thereafter reduced to 1 per month This does not represent a reduction in the level of our enforcement activity as resources will be redeployed on vehicle checks elsewhere.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

306 c307W; 27708

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Ferries Motor vehicles Testing Vehicles Portsmouth Vehicle Inspectorate Poole

Contains statistics

Yes