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Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Answer

Mr. Win Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list by administrative region for each of the last five years the number of (a) MOT centres that have lost their certification, (b) nominated testers that have lost their accreditation in these centres, (c) nominated testers that have lost their accreditation in centres that have not closed, (d) complaints investigated about MOT centres and the percentage which led to the withdrawal of (i) MOT centre certification and (ii) nominated tester accreditation and (e) routine inspections carried out and the percentage which have led to the withdrawal of (i) MOT centre certification and (ii) nominated tester accreditation. [130021] Mr. Hill: [holding answer 13 July 2000]: The premises at which MOT testing is carried out are known as vehicle testing stations (VTS), operated by an Authorised Examiner (AE), which may be an individual, a partnership or a company. If an examiner's authorisation is withdrawn, the premises can no longer be used as a Vehicle Testing Station and identity as such ceases. Nominated Testers (NT) work under the direction of the Authorised Examiner. The number of Authorised Examiners that have had their authorisation withdrawn and nominated testers disqualified from testing in the last five years, by region, is shown in the table. The number of authorisations withdrawn or testers disqualified, following complaint to, or targeted check by the Vehicle Inspectorate, or following a routine check, is not collated by region and could be supplied only at disproportionate cost; the tables show the figures nationally. The number of nominated testers disqualified from testing at VTS where the authorised examiner's authorisation has not been withdrawn is not held centrally. Summary of authorised examiners withdrawn and nominated testers disqualified following a check by VI _________________________________________________________________________________________________. 1999-2000 1998-99 1997-98 1996-97 1995-96 Area AEs Testers AEs Testers AEs Testers AEs Testers AEs Testers withdrawn disqualifi withdrawn disqualifi withdrawn disqualifi withdrawn disqualifi withdrawn disqualifi ed ed ed ed ed Scotland 13 23 7 18 10 25 18 35 17 30 North 13 60 19 44 31 55 25 73 37 67 Eastern North 13 23 19 27 14 28 17 68 15 53 Western West 10 25 32 34 17 37 19 45 12 21 Midlands Eastern 8 32 19 31 26 34 21 25 17 28 South 12 33 15 65 13 64 53 87 35 53 Eastern Western 9 24 17 51 17 50 21 66 24 75 South Wales 15 22 15 19 13 7 7 9 10 9 National 93 242 143 289 141 300 181 407 167 336 Total checks 55,561 57,913 74,742 73,642 72,202 As 0.17 0.44 0.25 0.50 0.19 0.40 0.25 0.55 0.23 0.47 percentage of checks _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Note: Total checks includes routine visits, targeted checks and inspections following a complaint Summary of authorised examiners withdrawn and nominated testers disqualified following a targeted check or complaint _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Number Targeted checks and complaints As percentage of checks 1999-2000 Authorised Examiners 67 | 16,176 0.41 Nominated Testers 232 | 1.43 1998-99 Authorised Examiners 127 | 19,567 0.65 Nominated Testers 274 | 1.40 1997-98 Authorised Examiners 133 | 25,668 0.52 Nominated Testers 286 | 1.11 1996-97 Authorised Examiners 145 | 26,024 0.56 Nominated Testers 381 | 1.46 1995-96 Authorised Examiners 140 | 26,888 0.52 Nominated Testers 330 | 1.23 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Summary of authorised examiners withdrawn and nominated testers disqualified following a routine check by VI _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Number Routine checks As percentage of checks 1999-2000 Authorised Examiners 26 | 39,385 0.07 Nominated Testers 10 | 0.03 1998-99 Authorised Examiners 16 | 38,346 0.04 Nominated Testers 15 | 0.04 1997-98 Authorised Examiners 8 | 49,074 0.02 Nominated Testers 14 | 0.03 1996-97 Authorised Examiners 36 | 47,618 0.08 Nominated Testers 26 | 0.05 1995-96 Authorised Examiners 27 | 45,314 0.06 Nominated Testers 6 | 0.01 _________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

354 c253-4W; 130021

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Licensing Inspections Garages and petrol stations Motor vehicles Standards Testing

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk