To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment his Department has made of the effects of proposals to remove certain Civil Service responsibilities from Whitehall Departments, with special reference to the vehicle inspectorate agency.

Establishing the vehicle inspectorate as an executive agency would enhance the responsibility and accountability of local management for its day to day running, and would focus incentives to improve efficiency and services to the public.The inspectorate would remain part of the Department of Transport and part of the Civil Service.