HC Deb 27 October 1975 vol 898 cc1028-30

Mr. Anthony Grant (by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the use in this country of large numbers of imported tyres which are unsafe to use on motor vehicles.

The Minister for Transport (Dr. John Gilbert)

Existing legislation prohibits the sale and use of unsuitable tyres whatever their origin. I am having investigations made into the reports which have appeared in the Press and elsewhere over the weekend.

Mr. Grant

I am grateful to the Minister for answering my Question at short notice. Is he aware that, ever since the matter was first raised in 1973, there has been grave disquiet among the motoring public about the danger to life caused by these shoddy goods? Will the hon. Gentleman undertake to report to the House the result of his inquiry into the Press reports which suggest that 5,000 killer tyres from Germany are being sold to British motorists? Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that the existing regulations are adequate and capable of being enforced? Rather than rely upon these regulations, would it not be better, in conjunction with the Department of Trade and our EEC partners, to consider banning these dangerous goods at source?

Dr. Gilbert

I am aware of the 1973 incident to which the hon. Gentleman refers. As far as I am aware, that was an isolated case, and very substantial fines were levied upon those responsible for the offences involved. I am personally satisfied with the current regulations. There will always be people who breach any regulations. I shall be happy to examine the hon. Gentleman's suggestion about the possibility of co-operation with our EEC partners and other ways of tackling problems of this sort. The reports are a salutary warning to everyone not to shop around to get very cut-price tyres at risk to their lives.

Mr. Bidwell

Is my hon. Friend aware that Japanese-made tyres are fitted on some British Army vehicles? Has he any reason to believe that some of those tyres may be sub-standard or defective when the vehicles take to our roads?

Dr. Gilbert

I am not aware of the circumstances to which my hon. Friend refers. There were certain allegations about Japanese-made moped tyres with alleged poor road-holding ability in wet weather. My information is that those allegations were not substantiated. If my hon. Friend has any evidence of a breach of regulations of any sort I shall be happy to look into it.

Mr. Fox

The Minister may well be satisfied with our regulations, but does not this show up a weakness in our relationship with our partners in the EEC? Bearing in mind what the Minister was doing last week about drivers' hours—with which the Opposition agree—will he use all his influence to stop this trade? It is incredible that one partner should export to another partner inferior goods of this type.

Dr. Gilbert

I am not sure that I entirely agree with all the hon. Gentleman's assumptions. I am grateful to him for his remarks on drivers' hours. Under the regulations in this country, if a tyre is manufactured to a certain degree of safety and speed and found not to meet those requirement there is nothing improper in selling it, with due knowledge given to the trade and the end purchaser that it is for use in less demanding conditions. The hon. Gentleman's reference to trade with the EEC is a red herring. The regulations make it an offence to sell or fit a defective or unsuitable tyre. These are fortunately rarely breached.