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2 Apr 2008 : Column 1016W—continued
Lorries: Safety
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many lorries in each region of England were detected by (a) the police and (b) the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency, as being (i) overloaded, (ii) in an unsatisfactory mechanical condition and (iii) driven in breach of drivers’ hours regulations, in each of the last 10 years; and what penalties were imposed on those drivers found to be in breach of the law. [192959]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) was formed in April 2003, since then the relevant statistics relating to VOSA are:
| Prohibited for overloading | Prosecuted for overloading | Mechanical prohibitions | Prohibited for drivers’ hours tachograph and records | Prosecuted for drivers’ hours tachograph and records | |
VOSA does not individually record the number of prosecutions due to mechanical faults but VOSA is sure this would be an insignificant figure.
Data collected centrally on the Court Proceedings Database, held by the Ministry of Justice do not identify the vehicle type (e.g. lorry, buses or coaches etc) involved for the specified motoring offences.
Similarly the Fixed Penalty Notices, Written Warnings and Vehicle Defect Rectification Scheme motoring offences collections, also held by the Ministry of Justice do not identify types of vehicles involved.
Lorries: Safety Measures
Dr. Iddon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what estimate she has made of the average cost to a road haulier of fitting retro-reflective marking tape to a heavy goods vehicle; and what the total estimated cost of doing so is for all road hauliers; [198208]
(2) what consideration she has given to making the fitting of retro-reflective marking tape mandatory on all new heavy goods vehicles from 10 October 2009. [198209]
Jim Fitzpatrick: Following European and international negotiations, it was agreed to require fitment of retro-reflective marking tape for new trucks over 7.5 tonnes gross vehicle weight (GVW) and new trailers over 3.5 tonnes GVW. The cost over 12 years has been estimated at between £152.6 million and £164.2 million and potential benefits over the same period have been estimated at £297 million. The cost per vehicle has been estimated as ranging from around £186 to almost £388.
The UK is working to implement the requirement via amendment to our national Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations by 10 October 2009. This is the earliest date that Contracting Parties to UN-ECE Regulation 48 can refuse to register new heavy trucks not fitted with reflective tape. A public consultation on proposed amendments will be carried out in due course.
Lorries: Testing
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many heavy goods vehicle test stations are operated by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency; and what their locations are. [197879]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency currently has 89 heavy goods vehicle test stations. A list of locations has been placed in the Libraries of the House.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the maximum distance is that a road haulier is expected to travel to present his vehicle for examination. [197880]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)'s criteria is to provide a testing facility sufficient to accommodate at least 90 per cent. of its customers with a travel distance of 30 miles, or 60 minutes, and that target is currently exceeded by a substantial margin.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there are plans to change the (a) number and (b) location of Vehicle and Operator Services Agency-operated heavy goods vehicle test stations. [197881]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) is currently undertaking a strategic review of its operational estate and has not ruled out changes. VOSA has recently relocated the Bristol heavy goods vehicle testing station to a more strategic location in Avonmouth.
Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there are plans to alter the (a) numbers and (b) terms of employment of staff employed and based at Vehicle and Operator Services Agency’s heavy goods vehicle test stations. [197883]
Jim Fitzpatrick: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has (a) no plans to reduce the number of staff employed in technical roles in its HGV test stations. However, there are plans to reduce the number of admin support staff. As part of the DFT Value For Money programme, VOSA has been investing in modern technology and call-handling processes to improve customer service and as a result, fewer admin staff are required. There are plans to reduce the admin work force by 19 FTEs. (b) VOSA has no proposals to change the terms and conditions of staff based at its HGV test stations. However, work has been done to investigate the options for more flexible opening hours for its test stations which may require new contracts to be negotiated.
Lorries: Tolls
Dr. Ladyman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent consideration has been given to the possibility of introducing a vignette to charge lorries for road use; and if she will make a statement. [195828]
Ms Rosie Winterton: As announced in Budget 2008, the Government will not be progressing a vignette scheme at this stage. This decision was informed by the freight data feasibility study which found that all options considered, including a vignette, offered limited safety, congestion and environmental benefits. The conclusions of the study will be published shortly.
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