National Car Testing Service Limited, NCTS, commenced operations on 4 January 2000. Test centres are situated so that at least 90% of car owners are within 30 miles of one of the 43 test centres. A total of 267,938 initial tests had been carried out by close of business on 16 November 2000. A total of 128,507 cars passed first time. Overall, 251,495 have passed the test including those who have passed on retest.
NCTS is required to provide and operate a comprehensive complaints procedure as part of its quality customer service obligations. This procedure includes provision for an appeal against the results of a test. A notice drawing attention to the complaints procedure is displayed in each test centre. It is also open to an owner, who is aggrieved by the outcome of a test, to appeal to the District Court. The court may either refuse the appeal or direct a new test. To date, 702 complaints have been made and so far 691 have been resolved.
I am satisfied that these arrangements are appropriately designed to safeguard both the interests of owners and the integrity of the national car test.