§ 2.49 p.m.
§ Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ What progress is being made in changing the regulations governing the carriage of explosives in the United Kingdom.
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, my right honourable friend the Minister for Roads and Traffic will today lay the Road Traffic (Carriage of Explosives) Regulations 1989. These regulations introduce new controls over the carriage of explosives by road and come into force on 3rd July.
Lord Campbell of CroyMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. The serious and tragic accident in Peterborough is no doubt still under inquiry. Are the Government completely satisfied that the regulations already prepared are best formulated to meet all likely situations, in particular concerning mixed loads and the marking of vehicles?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, the new regulations will deal with the problem of mixed loads and with labelling. As with all Health and Safety Executive regulations, they will be reviewed after 12 months of use. If any improvements can be made to them, they will be made.
§ Lord UnderhillMy Lords, these are very important regulations. Will they be made by affirmative resolution, or by the negative procedure? That would appear to be a very important matter. According to a Written Answer given by his ministerial colleague, Mr. Peter Bottomley, in the Commons Hansard of 22nd March, in 1986–87 there were 101 accidents involving heavy goods vehicles carrying hazardous substances, and in 1987–88 there were 68. Is the noble Lord aware of the nature of those hazardous substances. In how many instances were explosives being carried?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, without notice I cannot give a breakdown of the accidents. There have been very few accidents involving explosives in this country. The last major one was in 1957. Since then there have been seven or so minor incidents which have not involved an explosion. The order is indeed by negative procedure.
§ Lord Hatch of LusbyMy Lords, will the noble Lord accept that this Question also covers the carriage of atomic and other toxic waste—by road and rail? Can he tell the House what safeguards there are for the movement of such dangerous materials on our railways? One sees these trains regularly; for example from Hampstead Heath. What are the safeguards that the Government place on such movements.
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, that is nothing to do with this Question.
§ Viscount Massereene and FerrardMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that about four years ago in a demonstration British Rail crashed at 100 miles per hour a train that was packed with atomic waste and there was no explosion? It was just a lot of smoke.
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, that may be the case but it has nothing to do with the new regulations either.
§ Lord UnderhillMy Lords, I should like to press the Minister. I appreciate that he cannot give an answer now. However, this order will be of the utmost importance. We do not wish to take up the time of the House having a prayer to annul it. Will he therefore urge government managers that the order should proceed by affirmative resolution?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, I am not certain how we would save the time of the House either by having a prayer or by approving the order by affirmative resolution. These regulations are made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. At the time it was obviously thought that such orders should proceed by negative resolution, and that remains the case.
§ Lord Hatch of LusbyMy Lords, does that Act not apply to the carriage of atomic and other waste?
§ Lord Brabazon of TaraMy Lords, the regulations to which I have referred, about which my noble friend asked me, have nothing whatever to do with the carriage of atomic waste. They refer to the carriage of explosives. I thought that had been made perfectly clear.