Decat and MOT

[Printedflunky]

I have had a problem with my car failing it's MOT due to not having rear door handles, exhaust too loud and due to a missing catalyst ( if you're on 306.net you may have read about it).
I read this post from a link on .net and send another email to VOSA basically asking the same question just to doubly make sure.
I didn't have a reply the next day so phoned VOSA 0300 123 9000 and spoke to a lady who confirmed that diesels DO NOT need the CAT to pass the MOT.
Yay.
However, this morning I recieved a reply to my email and it goes like this...


Dear Mr G,

Thank you for your email enquiry dated 20th April, 2012 concerning an MOT
failure.

Diesel emissions equipment, including any catalyst or Diesel Particulate
Filter is not part of the MOT test and therefore its absence will not
result in an MOT failure. However, removal of such components would
constitute a breach of Construction and Use regulations and is therefore
illegal.

To see what standards are applied to the MOT test or to see how individual
items should be inspected you can use our online system.

I hope this information has assisted you with your enquiry, but if you have
any further questions please do not hesitate to contact us again.

Kind Regards

Christina M Joseph
Customer Service Centre
VOSA Operations Directorate
Tel: 0300 123 9000

The staff at the VOSA Contact Centre are keen to hear your feedback on the
service that they provide for you,to enable them to further understand
customer requirements and make improvements where possible.

So if this modification is illegal how is it an MOT pass?
Does this mean that this mod could invalidate your insurance?
anyone else got any ideas?