(1)For the purpose of spreading the work of issuing certificates in contemplation of a change in—
(a)the length of the appropriate period, or
(b)the length of the period specified in section 47(2)(a) and (b) of this Act,
(and whether for the purposes of that section or section 66 of this Act), the order or, as the case may be, regulations changing the length of that period may be made so as to come into operation on different days as respects vehicles first registered under any of the enactments mentioned in section 47(2) of this Act at different times.
(2)Where—
(a)within the appropriate period after a test certificate is issued or treated for the purposes of section 47 of this Act as issued, but
(b)not earlier than one month before the end of that period,
a further test certificate is issued as respects the same vehicle, the further certificate shall be treated for the purposes of that section as if issued at the end of the appropriate period.
(3)Where the particulars contained in a test certificate in accordance with regulations made under section 45 of this Act include a date of expiry falling later, but not more than one month later, than the end of the appropriate period after the date on which it is issued—
(a)the certificate shall be deemed to have been issued in respect of the same vehicle as an earlier test certificate, and
(b)the date on which it was issued shall be deemed to have been a date falling within the last month of the appropriate period after the date on which that earlier certificate was issued or treated for the purposes of section 47 of this Act as issued;
and any date of expiry contained in a test certificate shall be deemed to have been entered in accordance with regulations under section 45 of this Act unless the contrary is proved.
(4)The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for the issue, in such circumstances as may be prescribed, of a certificate of temporary exemption in respect of a public service vehicle adapted to carry more than eight passengers, exempting that vehicle from the provisions of section 47(1) of this Act for such period as may be specified in the certificate.
(5)In relation to any public service vehicle so adapted—
(a)subsections (2) and (3) above shall have effect as if for “one month” (in both places) there were substituted “two months”, and
(b)subsection (3) above shall have effect as if for “last month” there were substituted “last two months”.
(6)In subsections (4) and (5) above “public service vehicle” has the same meaning as in the [1981 c. 14.] Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981.