To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many garages in the UK are licensed by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to conduct private vehicle and motorcycle MOT tests; how often these garages are inspected by VOSA to ensure standards are being upheld; and how many inspectors VOSA employs to check on standards in these garages. (197884)

The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has 19,064 garages authorised to conduct MOT testing in Great Britain on private vehicles and motorcycles. In the financial year 2007-08, every active MOT garage received a VOSA site assessment in addition to any demand-led or targeted visits. This fully achieved a demanding Secretary of State key target last year. VOSA employs 330 vehicle examiners who spend around one third of their time on MOT garage supervision.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many non-UK registered vehicles were inspected by Vehicle and Operator Services Agency inspectors during the south-east pilot exercise in the 2007-08 financial year; and how many prohibition notes were issued. (197918)

The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) inspected and issued prohibitions to the following numbers of non-UK registered vehicles:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has for future charges for (a) private vehicle and motorcycle MOT tests, (b) heavy goods vehicle tests and (c) public service vehicle tests. (197921)

A consultation on proposals to raise HGV and PSV test fees by approximately 5 per cent. for 2008-09 closed on 10 March. A further consultation on MOT fees is due to close on the 30 of April. The results of these consultations are being/will be analysed. The Secretary of State (SoS) will announce her decision on future fees, having duly considered the response to these consultations in due course.

The SoS announced in 2006 her intention to abolish certain HGV and PSV operator licence fees and increase HGV and PSV test fees to recover the income lost. This rationalisation is planned to occur in April 2009 to coincide with the normal annual fee review cycle.

The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) plans to review fee levels regularly, including consultation on proposed changes.