§ Mr. Woodhouseasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will confirm that all models of the P70 invalid tricycle, now in use by disabled drivers, conform in all respects with Construction and Use Regulation 19.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI have been asked to reply.
My aim is to satisfy all the appropriate Construction and Use Regulations, including Regulation 19 which, inter alia, stipulates that the petrol tank is to be
fixed on the vehicle in such a position that it is reasonably secure against its being damaged".Interpretation of this regulation involves a degree of judgment, but certain modifications which are in hand are designed to improve further the security of the tank of the P70 model against damage.
§ Mr. Woodhouseasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he has taken to ensure the safe operation of the P70 invalid tricycle and its predecessors, now in use by disabled drivers, 382W in the light of the report of the Motor Industry Research Association on tests carried out in August 1973 and other independent reports over the last five years.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI have been asked to reply.
Design improvements in respect of safety as well as all other aspects are part of the on-going programme of development. Improvements being introduced on current production models include some reinforcement of the chassis, bulkhead and body, the fitting of sound insulation material to the interior and repositioning of minor controls, of the battery and of fuel and power lines. All earlier models have been out of production for at least three years and are being progressively replaced.