HC Deb 14 October 1991 vol 196 c62W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list by date, for the last 12 months to date, when military explosives were transported through the Doncaster area.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Redmond

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if local emergency services in the Doncaster area are informed when military explosives are being transported through the area.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The Road Traffic (Carriage of Explosives) Regulations 1989 do not place a general duty on carriers to inform local emergency services when explosives, military or commercial, are being transported through their area unless the intention is to move more than 5 tonnes of explosives in hazard division 1.1 by road. In this case a route or routes agreed with the chief officers of the relevant police districts must be used. When explosives are carried by rail the necessary actions are taken by the British Rail Board as the carriage of explosives by rail is subject to BRB byelaws.

All vehicles, both road and rail, carrying MOD explosives are marked in accordance with current legislation and the precautions to be taken are known to the emergency services.