§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Transport if, following his statement on cycling policy earlier in the current year, he will make regulations to require new bicycles to comply with the appropriate British Standard; and what progress has been made in the preparation of regulations relating to electrically assisted pedal cycles.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI have today issued draft regulations to improve cycle safety. These include a requirement that new bicycles should comply with the British Standard and be so marked. The proposals are being circulated to a wide range of interested organisations.
Following consultation on draft regulations defining electrically assisted pedal cycles, I have decided on the criteria of maximum speed and weight that these cycles must meet to fall within the provisions of section 24 of the Transport Act 1981, and I am circulating copies of the final regulations. It is necessary that their operative date should coincide with that of the pedal cycle regulations as these contain other construction and use requirements which apply specifically to electrically assisted cycles.
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Percentage Increase in Common Prices Product and Category of price or amount 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 Common Wheat Target price 2.6 6.3 7.73 8.70 Intervention Price 1.5 4.5 6 8.50 Reference price for bread-wheat (average quality) n.a. 4.5 7.5 8.50 Reference price for bread-wheat (minimal quality) 1.5 4.25 5.5 7.5 I intend to lay both sets of regulations before the House as soon as consultation has been completed and I hope they will be operative before spring 1983. Unfortunately, this means that some poorly made bicycles may still be on the market this Christmas. It is important that any purchaser, and particularly parents who may be considering buying bikes for their children, should go to a reputable cycle dealer.