It appears that nothing has changed in the last 20 plus years.When I was being "assessed" by the inspectorates staff roller type brake testers had just been introduced and nearly all of the other people on the same course as me could not even work out simple percentage calculations which related to vehicle weights and brake effort.Most also seemed very limited on vehicle knowledge but everybody was given the approval to test.The two brothers that owned the business I worked for had no motor trade qualifications whatsoever but both had been given testing approval even though both of them had full time jobs not connected to the motor trade.Their only concern was doing as many tests as possible,to the point that my co-worker and I had to regularly spend time doing free repairs to prevent customers involving the ministry.After one of my employers lost his full time job and started testing fulltime his incompetence even became apparent to the ministry and a mini was sent incognito to try to ensnare him.After he had completed the vehicle test he was told immediately by the ministry staff that his testers authorisation was being withdrawn.One of the main criticisms of the tester made by ministry,s own people was that he had not tested brake servo operation on a mid seventies mini 850cc.The vehicle concerned did not even have a servo fitted.Needles to say the guy concerned carried on testing for many years even though it was obvious to everybody that he was clueless.In my opinion if everybodies only concern is standards of vehicle safety then vehicle testing should be taken out of private hands completely and surely this is even more relevant on HGVs.