HC Deb 19 July 1961 vol 644 cc1237-9
43. Mr. Nabarro

asked the Minister of Transport what number of accidents occurred in any recent convenient period on British roads resulting directly from dark and black diesel oil fumes from exhausts of road vehicles; and what steps he proposes to take to increase road safety in this respect.

Mr. Marples

I regret that the information requested is not available. Black smoke is often due to misuse of the excess fuel device to obtain extra power. I hope that the new Regulations, which I am laying before the House today, will prove effective in preventing this abuse.

Mr. Nabarro

Would not my right hon. Friend agree that his Regulations, covering—according to what was said yesterday by the Parliamentary Secretary for Science—only the matter of the fuel device in the engine, are quite inadequate to deal with the whole of this gravely menacing situation to road safety? Cannot he do something to secure the proper enforcement of the law as it exists at present?

Mr. Marples

The question of enforcement is one for the police and for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. I think that the Regulations which are being laid today will represent an important step forward in reducing this evil.

Sir G. Nicholson

If the new Regulations are to be enforceable by the police, is not that taking the whole thing out of the hands of my right hon. Friend? There are many police forces in the country. What relations has my right hon. Friend with those police forces to ensure that the Regulations are enforced?

Mr. Marples

My personal relations with the police are most amicable. As Minister, it is not for me to deal either with the Metropolitan Police or the county police forces. That, speaking Ministerially, is the function of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

Sir L. Ungoed-Thomas

Does not the Minister realise that we are getting fed-up with this "passing the buck"? When a Question was asked of the Parliamentary Secretary for Science he passed it on to the Minister of Transport. Now the Minister of Transport is passing it on to the Home Secretary. Does not the right hon. Gentleman realise how extremely dangerous are these diesel fumes and that, when driving along a road, it is quite impossible to pass without danger a vehicle emitting diesel fumes, because one cannot see? Is he aware that these fumes are uncomfortable to drive behind and that therefore there is every incentive to pass? Is he further aware that these fumes make the roads sticky and slippery? Will not the right hon. Gentleman see that some action is taken by the Government in some capacity to deal with this menacing problem?

Mr. Marples

I can only reply that it is a matter for the police and that the police are under the Ministerial direction of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

Mr. Shinwell

Can the Question be passed on to the Prime 'Minister, when we should have more fog than ever?

Mr. Marples

I will pass on the observations to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

Mr. Nabarro

The right hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell) is very poor today—very poor.