I propose to take Questions Nos. 232 and 236 together.
Roadworthiness testing currently applies to heavy goods vehicles, large trailers, buses and ambulances over one year old and light goods vehicles over four years old and is carried out by authorised testers, generally private garages appointed and supervised by the main local authorities. Vehicles are required to be tested every year with the exception of light goods vehicles which are tested every two years. Testing is carried out in accordance with detailed requirements laid down in my Department's vehicle testers' manuals.
The current test fees, exclusive of VAT, are £57 for heavy goods vehicles and buses, £45 for large trailers and ambulances and £30 for light goods vehicles. These fees also apply where a full retest is carried out.
It is intended that car testing will be brought into operation early next year. The selection of a national franchisee to operate the car testing scheme will be the subject of an EU-wide competitive tendering process and the test fee will be one of the key criteria in the assessment of tender proposals. The costs of compliance with the test standards cannot be precisely estimated and, in the individual case, will vary with the condition of each vehicle.