HL Deb 23 July 1968 vol 295 cc850-1

2.51 p.m.

LORD STRATHCARRON

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will introduce legislation to make it compulsory for heavy commercial vehicles to be fitted with vertical exhaust pipes in the interest of health and safety.]

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, the answer is, No. The purpose the noble Lord has in mind would not be fulfilled by introducing such legislation. The gases which come out of an exhaust pipe tend to sink towards the ground, so the widespread use of vertical exhausts would have the disadvantage that foodstuffs such as greengroceries carried on open lorries might become contaminated. Moreover, any solid particles blown out of a hot exhaust could fall on the heads and shoulders of nearby pedestrians and cyclists. The most practical position for an exhaust pipe outlet seems to be low down on the offside of the vehicle and pointing to the rear.

LORD STRATHCARRON

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord very much for his reply, which I do not think is very satisfactory. Is he aware that in many parts of the world this system works with great satisfaction; and that it seems to me that the exhaust blown on to one's legs at present eventually goes up to the level of one's head, whereas with the system I suggest it would be emitted at the level of the head and then rise, because exhaust gases are hotter than the air? Therefore, the system I propose would be preferable.

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, the noble Lord seems to be walking in the middle of the road.

LORD STRATHCARRON

I am on a pedestrian crossing.

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, this is a problem not being dealt with solely in this country. A specialist working group of the Economic Commission for Europe concluded that vertical exhaust pipes were unlikely to be helpful. Investigations have, however, not been completed. Europe is, oddly enough sharing our view.

LORD POPPLEWELL

My Lords, could my right honourable friend say what investigation is taking place with a view to making it compulsory to reduce these fumes that are coming from exhaust pipes, both from ordinary commercial motor lorries and, in particular, from some of the diesel engines running on the railways? Exhaust fumes from diesel engines rise and anyone who travels on the railway bridges that cross the lines knows the effect of these fumes, which I am sure are very injurious to health.

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, if diesel fuel is burned in an internal combustion engine it is bound to produce fumes. This is one of the facts of life. However, we do not want to have smoke as well. The best way to deal with smoke is to prevent it. The Ministry of Transport mechanical engineers carry out roadside spot-checks at which the use of vehicles smoking excessively is prohibited. The new annual checks for heavy goods vehicles will in fact include a smoke check.

EARL FORTESCUE

My Lords, could the noble Lord say whether the habitual use of vertical exhausts on farm tractors is detrimental to produce?

LORD WINTERBOTTOM

My Lords, taken by and large, farm tractors operate on farms and are not an undue nuisance.