§ 1. Mr. Pageasked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will direct the Road Research Laboratory to draft a code of standards of safety in vehicle design dealing with visibility, controllability, braking, lighting, and fitments; if, upon receipt of such a draft code, he will review the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations; and if he will then take steps to bring those Regulations into line with such code.
§ The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. John Boyd-Carpenter)As my hon. Friend will be aware, the Road Research Laboratory is the responsibility of my noble Friend the Lord President of the Council, and it is not, therefore, for me to give any such direction as is suggested. I am, however, in close touch with the Lord President and the Laboratory, and make full use of the results of the Laboratory's work in this and other directions.
§ Mr. PageIs it not the case that the Road Research Laboratory has in recent years made some very valuable investigations and reports on this subject? Does not my right hon. Friend think that 354 it would be wise, having regard to the change in the design of cars during recent years, to bring these Regulations up-to-date?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe process of keeping them up-to-date is a continuing one, but I share my hon. Friend's obvious appreciation of the extremely valuable work which the officers of the Road Research Laboratory are doing.