§ 31. Mrs. Sally Oppenheimasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to increase the measures of enforceability which exist with regard to the security of loads carried by transport vehicles in Great Britain.
§ Mr. PeytonI am having a Code of Practice on Safe Loading prepared in consultation with industry.
§ Mrs. OppenheimThat is a very helpful reply. Is my right hon. Friend aware that a mother and child who were constitutents of mine were recently killed as a result of a lorry shedding its load on their car? Can he say how many instances of minor or major load shedding by road transport vehicles were reported in the last 12 months and how many of them resulted in death, injury, serious damage or delay? Is he further aware that it is practically impossible to embark on a journey of more than a few miles in this country without observing an insecure load?
§ Mr. PeytonI am well aware of the serious problem to which my hon. Friend referred. I am also aware of the miserable accident to which she drew attention. I think that about 350 accidents have taken place in the last year in which insecure loading played some part. While I cannot give my hon. Friend all the information for which she asked, I can assure her that this matter is not taken lightly.
§ Mr. LiptonIn his consideration of this serious problem, will my right hon. Friend apply his mind to the question of nuisance caused by lorries carrying rubbish or loads of sand which are not properly covered so that all the muck and rubbish blows on to following cars?
§ Mr. PeytonYes, certainly.