§ Mr. Frank CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the mechanical problems with, and alterations made to, the truck cargo heavy duty mark 2 vehicles over the last two years;
(2) how many unscheduled stops there have been involving truck cargo heavy duty mark 2 vehicles over the last two years; and if he will provide a breakdown of the circumstances which resulted in these unscheduled stops.
§ Mr. HanleySince they entered service and up to 30 March 1994, there were 20 occasions on which the truck cargo heavy duty mark 2 vehicles were obliged to make unscheduled stops to deal with technical problems. This resulted in some delays in the completion of a few journeys, the circumstances of which are described in the table. Modifications have been fitted, or will be fitted shortly, to rectify a small number of recurring faults on the vehicles. We are confident that the work in hand will improve in-service reliability.
991W
Cause Service Number Date Location Fault Quality Design Rectification Delay time 20 29 January 1994 M1 north of J23 Fan belt shredded due to two detached alternator cooling fan blades Pressurisation failures: (Replacement tractor unit) — — Tractor unit replaced. Failure under investigation 1 hour 1. Damaged plastic stub pipe in umbilical connector 1. Umbilical connector replaced. Improved design to be fitted to all vehicles 42 minutes 2. Air leak from valve in cab 2, Leak sealed