5 Feb 1996 : Column: 1
Written Answers to Questions
Monday 5 February 1996
TRANSPORT
Heavy Goods Vehicles (Drivers)
Mr. Lord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the effect of new regulations for drivers of heavy goods vehicles on the work prospects of drivers who wear spectacles; and if he will make a statement. [12913]
Mr. Norris: We estimate that some 3,000 drivers will be unable to renew their entitlement to drive large goods and passenger-carrying vehicles when the new eyesight regulations are introduced. It is not possible to estimate how many of these will lose their job or how many will find some other work with their present employer. The work prospects of those who wish to take up the driving of these vehicles will not be affected.
Bus-to-rail Connections
Mr. Patrick Thompson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he is taking to improve bus-to-rail connections. [13107]
Mr. Norris: The Government recognise the importance of ease of interchange for people using both buses and trains. By maximising private sector involvement, through our policies of privatisation and deregulations, we expect to see connections improve as bus and rail operators respond innovatively to passenger demand and seek to generate custom. The winning franchisee for South West Trains has committed itself to introducing a number of dedicated bus links to SWT stations. In the publication PPG 13: "A guide to better practice", which we published last October, we stressed the need for local authorities to consider both the location and the attractiveness of bus to rail and bus to bus interchanges when developing their transport strategies.
Rail Services
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport from which railway stations rail services have been withdrawn in 1995. [13133]
Mr. Watts:
Passenger rail services were withdrawn from five stations during 1995--Attercliffe Road and Brightside in South Yorkshire and Godley East, Miles Platting and Park in Greater Manchester. The services at these stations immediately before closure were nine trains per week day for Attercliffe Road and four for Brightside; one train a week at Godley East, five trains per week day at Miles Platting, and three per weekday at Park. All were very lightly used.
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Mrs. Dunwoody:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) how many rolling road brake testing machines there have been in operation within the Vehicle Inspectorate in each of the last five years; [13234]
(2) if he will list the targets set out for the Vehicle Inspectorate regarding traffic and vehicle reinforcement for each of the last 10 years; [13242]
(3) if he will list the number of immediate and delayed prohibitions imposed by the Vehicle Inspectorate on heavy goods vehicles for each year from 1984 to 1994; [13282]
(4) how many inspections have been undertaken by his Department on tankers contracted by Yorkshire Water in the Yorkshire area; and how many were found to be defective; [13239]
(5) how many traffic examiners and vehicles examiners have been employed as a result of the extra £350,000 invested in the Vehicle Inspectorate in the last year; [13241]
(6) if he will list the procedures that have to be followed by officers from the Vehicle Inspectorate and the police following an accident involving heavy goods and passenger carrying vehicles. [13233]
(7) if he will list the number of (a) prosecutions brought and (b) convictions in magistrates courts for (i) tachograph and hours offences and (ii) mechanical illegalities. [13273]
Mr. Norris:
I have asked the chief executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate executive agency to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Ron Oliver to Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody, dated 5 February 1996:
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(1) Target no longer used as a key target.
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The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions relating to enforcement activities within the Vehicle Inspectorate (VI).
The number of roller brake testers in operation within VI in each of the last 5 years was
1991: 193
1992: 193
1993: 193
1994: 193
1995: 192
(191 roller brake testers are in use at February 1996).
Additional roller brake testing capacity is available in vehicle operators' (designated) premises, primarily for annual statutory testing purposes. This capacity has increased by 43 roller brake testers over the past 3 years.
The number of immediate and delayed prohibitions issued from 1984 to 1994 is shown in the attached Table 1.
The key targets for enforcement activities are shown in the attached Table 2. Previous to 1991, performance on 5 activities was measured against targets related to the number of operators and vehicles. The targets were:
a) MOT Inspections--the equivalent of 1.5 routine visits per year per garage on the broad assumption that there would be one visit. The additional effort would be spent in applying extra checks on garages where it was evident that attention was necessary.
b) HGV Premises--the number of visits would equate to one visit per operator every 5 years. After the initial visit following granting or consideration of a licence, subsequent visits would depend upon need relative to evidence of poor maintenance or substantial changes in the nature of operation.
c) HGV Spot Checks--the equivalent of 20% of the HGV population examined per year (including vehicles examined at operators' premises).
d) PSV Premises--the equivalent of one visit every 5 years with each operator being visited when the licence was being granted or considered. Subsequent visits would be based upon evidence of poor maintenance or a considerable change in operating circumstances.
e) PSV Spot Checks--the equivalent of 30% of vehicle population (including vehicles examined at operators' premises).
All heavy goods vehicles have an annual statutory roadworthiness examination and are subject to roadside checks conducted by VI regardless of the nature of the goods carried. We do not have separate information for tankers carrying water which are checked as part of this normal routine. However, we have carried out special roadside checks on water tankers in the Yorkshire area; total of 203 vehicles were checked between October and December, 29 immediate and 19 delayed prohibitions were issued.
The number of additional posts created because of additional funding provided to VI is 11.5 traffic examiners and 2.5 vehicle examiners.
In accidents involving HGVs or PSVs, a VI vehicle examiner, on notification from the Police, will arrange to inspect the vehicle at the accident site, if possible, or at a suitable location that allows a full examination of the vehicle to be carried out. Particular attention is paid to safety critical systems eg brakes, steering, tyres and suspension, and any defects which the examiner considers may have contributed to the accident recorded. When the examination is complete, the relevant information is entered on VI's accident database. The examiner may issue an immediate or delayed prohibition if, in his opinion, the vehicle is unfit for service. The Police may also request a written factual statement of his findings which can be produced as evidence in Court. In "Special Interest" accident cases eg serious accidents involving passenger carrying vehicles or serious multiple collisions with several fatalities, the procedures are the same although in the case of coaches a detailed examination of the coach interior will be carried out to establish possible causes of passenger injury eg crushing by seats, normally by specially trained teams.
Separate statistics for prosecutions are only currently available for drivers' hours and overloading. All other offences, including tachograph and mechanical illegalities, are counted under a general heading and we cannot provide separate information
The detailed breakdown for drivers hours offences for 1994/95 is as follows.
Total offences reported for prosecution Offences successfully prosecuted
HGV's 2,835 2,386
PSVs 198 170
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