The Retail Motor Industry is pressing the Government to allow it to run a garage licensing scheme if ministers decide one is necessary.

John Bond-Smith, RMI president, thought 12,000 complaints in a year was unacceptable but said this represented 0.04% of service and repair work.

“We agree there must be improvements,” he said, speaking at the RMI's annual dinner in London. “If there is to be licensing, the RMI is best placed – both with training and experience – to establish and run a scheme on behalf of the Government.”

Mr Bond-Smith said the recent Government task force report on car servicing and repairs had been presented in a balanced way.

The RMI was encouraging all garages to commit to its quality control scheme “which surely demonstrates our commitment to customer service satisfaction”.

Mr Bond-Smith delivered the message directly to the RMI's principal guest, Melanie Johnson, minister for competition, consumers and markets. (November 6, 2001)