§ 2.36 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any law exists to require a pedal cycle to be fitted with any form of braking system.]
§ THE EARL OF BIRKENHEADMy Lords, under powers already available to him, my right honourable friend the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation has decided to make regulations requiring, with some exceptions, two efficient brakes on pedal cycles. The draft regulations will very shortly be circulated to representative bodies for their comments.
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl what is the precise significance of the exceptions to which he has referred?
§ THE EARL OF BIRKENHEADMy Lords, if the noble Earl wishes me to go into greater detail I will willingly do so—but I was rather struck by his forbearance yesterday. However, I am only too willing to satisfy him, so far as the information in my possession enables me to do so. The position is that the Minister proposes that two brakes be required on all pedal bicycles and tricycles, old and new, except fixed-wheel cycles, children's cycles and cycles belonging to foreign tourists; in these cases at least one brake will be necessary. The exception for foreign tourists is a result of the provisions of the International Convention on Road Traffic, 1949. No particular form of brake will be required, except that brakes operating on the tyre 1416 will not be reckoned as sufficient to satisfy the regulations. I do not know whether the noble Earl wishes to know about pedal cycles which are converted to mechanical drive. I do not wish to detain the House, but if he desires information about these, I am prepared to tell him.
§ EARL HOWEMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether he can give the House an assurance that there will be no form of bicycle, tricycle, or what you will, without some form of braking?
§ THE EARL OF BIRKENHEADI think that is inherent in my answer. I can certainly give the noble Earl that assurance.
§ LORD BARNBYMy Lords, can the noble Earl say what is the expected cost of having all the cycles existing in this country examined to fulfil this undertaking?
§ THE EARL OF BIRKENHEADMy Lords, that is the kind of question I should expect from the noble Lord. Obviously, it is a very difficult one and also one given without notice, and I should like to have a little notice before answering.