§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken to encourage the installation of secondary braking systems in passenger coaches; and what studies have been carried out in relation to such systems to evaluate the costs and the economies in addition to the safety advantages in terrain where excessive braking involves the possibility of brake failure in the primary system.
§ Mr. HoramAll coaches built since 1968 have had to be fitted with a primary braking system, a secondary system which will operate independently of the primary system and an efficient parking brake. Proposals for new braking requirements to implement an EEC directive are now under consideration, but these will prescribe standards of braking performance rather than specific braking devices. The use of auxiliary devices such as electric or hydraulic retarders may well be advantageous in meeting the standards of performance for a hill descent, but the Department has not recently evaluated the costs and economies associated with such devices, as it will be for the manufacturer to decide on the most economic means of meeting the standard required.