§ 2.43 p.m.
§ Lord Brougham and VauxMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether in the light of their support for European Road Safety Year they will introduce regulations to make the minimum tyre tread depth in the United Kingdom 1mm across the whole width of the tyre, which is the minimum prescribed standard in most EEC countries.
The Earl of CaithnessMy Lords, the Department of Transport is conducting a review of the tyre regulations and tomorrow my honourable friend the Minister responsible for roads and traffic is meeting the various organisations concerned with this subject.
§ Lord Brougham and VauxMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for his Answer. I think I had better wait and see what his honourable friend has to say.
Lord Paget of NorthamptonMy Lords, since our safety record is so much better than that of our Continental friends, would it not be a better idea to suggest that they adjust their regulations to conform with ours?
The Earl of CaithnessMy Lords, I can inform the House that there are not European regulations as such. Each individual country has different regulations. I think that, until there is harmonisation, there seems to be no demand in Europe for bringing their regulations to the standard of ours or ours to theirs.