asked the Secretary of State for Transport how many visits have been made by representatives of the traffic commissioners or his Department to local long-distance coach operators to check bus tachographs; and what action has been subsequently taken.

[pursuant to the reply, 25 October 1985, c. 272]: Separate figures are not kept for checks on tachograph charts for drivers of vehicles operated by local long distance coach operators. My Department's traffic examiners make regular visits to all bus operators to check vehicle and driver records including tachograph charts. Passenger vehicle and driver records are also checked at the roadside and at the ferry ports. In 1984 some 20,747 charts were checked for drivers of passenger vehicles from which 2,224 (10·7 per cent.) offences were reported for further action.