HL Deb 31 July 1978 vol 395 cc1124-6

2.43 p.m.

Lord SANDYS

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 what proposals they have for ensuring that all bulk chemicals in drums, packages or containers are clearly marked for identification of contents during transit or storage.

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, regulations to give the present voluntary scheme of tanker marking statutory force are being prepared by the Health and Safety Executive. The regulations will probably be laid before Parliament before the end of the year. The labelling of drums and packages will be covered by the comprehensive regulations now being prepared by the Health and Safety Executive to control the transport by road of all dangerous goods. A consultative document is expected to be published in October. There are no proposals for further legislation covering the labelling of dangerous goods in storage

Lord SANDYS

My Lords, will the Government agree that it is very dangerous that we should have delay for possibly as long a period as between four and five months? In view of the circumstances following the tragic accident near Tarragona in Spain, will the Government give a greater sense of urgency to this particular legal problem?

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, I do not accept that the Government have not treated this matter with a sense of urgency. It is a complicated problem. Not only is the Department of Transport involved but also the Health and Safety Executive. They have to look at these matters and we are consultating with various sides of industry. Certain voluntary codes are being used by a great number of people who are involved in the carriage of dangerous goods, whether by road, ship or train. Until we can have full consultations and the legislative time in which to deal with them, to lay the orders and so on, having achieved agreement, we cannot do more. We are not delaying on it; we are consulting the whole time and it is an extremely complicated subject.

Lord BRUCE of DONINGTON

My Lords, will my noble friend agree that there is absolutely nothing to stop these public spirited firms from labelling their own containers without waiting for legislation?

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, my noble friend is quite right and a great many firms do that already. They are using schemes based on the European regulations for the carriage of dangerous goods by road, rail and sea. They are using the "Hazchem" markings with the special numbers and diagrams so that our Fire Service and emergency services can take appropriate action if vehicles are involved in accidents. There is nothing to prevent people from using the codes voluntarily until we have decided exactly what form the statutory regulation should take.

Viscount ST. DAVIDS

My Lords, can the noble Baroness tell me whether the regulations which are being produced will specify that certain dangerous cargoes should travel, at least for the major part of their transit, by rail or, if not, that they should travel by certain limited routes which are believed to be specially safe and which can he specified for such cargoes?

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, there are at present European standards governing the carriage of dangerous goods by road, rail and sea. As I have said, there are various other voluntary arrangements in this country. So far as the carriage of dangerous goods by rail is concerned, it is the policy of the Government to get what heavy loads they can off the roads and on to the railways. That remains the Government's policy.