A report by the government's Better Regulation Executive claims that VOSA needs to be mindful of the inherent risks involved with the implementation of its testing transformation programme (TTP) if it is to maintain its present level of compliance.
Under the TTP, VOSA plans to transfer 85% of annual HGV tests to private authorised testing facilities (ATFs) by March 2012.
The report, part of a series of reviews of national regulators, examines how VOSA matches up to the principles of effective regulation set out by Philip Hampton in 2005.
Commenting on the TTP, the report states: "In drawing up contracts with private sector providers to run ATFs, VOSA will have to ensure that, where the provider is also a vehicle operator, there is equal access to the test centre for other operators, particularly those that are SMEs and, therefore, not resourced to adapt their premises to include an ATF."
It also advises VOSA to ensure inspectors remain completely independent of operators and that the standard of testing remains at a high level. It welcomes VOSA's intention to rotate staff between different test centres.
Flexible elements of the existing testing framework, which are designed to be business-friendly, also need to be maintained in the new arrangements, the reports states, "especially in relation to business hours of test centres, handling of vehicles late for tests and processes for booking tests".
The report did praise VOSA for knowing its customer base very well and considering the likely impact on them of changes to its policies and processes. It also acknowledged that although only implemented recently, the graduated fixed penalties scheme is delivering its intended results.
Meanwhile, the report said it felt there was a public interest argument that information on individual Operator Compliance Risk Scores should be published to enable potential customers to make informed choices.
To view the full report go to: http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file53851.pdf