HC Deb 01 July 1996 vol 280 cc353-4W
Mr. Tyler

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will conduct a survey of wheel loss incidents to determine the number of wheels lost off trucks and buses in the United Kingdom every year. [34870]

Mr. Norris

I have asked my Department to investigate, together with the vehicle inspectorate, ways of improving the collection and collation of data to give a more accurate assessment of the incidence of wheel loss.

Mr. Tyler

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list those wheel fixings that his Department has assessed as conforming to the British standard. [34871]

Mr. Norris

My Department does not monitor or assess the quality of wheel fixing components.

Mr. Tyler

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has commissioned in respect of the products on the market which claim to prevent wheel loss. [34879]

Mr. Norris

My Department has not commissioned any research into products which claim to prevent wheel loss. It is a matter of departmental policy that we do not test, approve or otherwise endorse any proprietary products.

Mr. Tyler

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will fund research into wheel loss. [34878]

Mr. Norris

The mechanism of wheel loss has been extensively researched through the British Standards Institution and my Department is closely involved with the relevant committee of the institution. Recommendations regarding the manufacturing quality of fixings and care and maintenance have been made based on the outcome of this research, to which the Department of Trade and Industry contributed some £35,000.

Mr. Chris Davies

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research his Department has(a) commissioned and (b) evaluated into road traffic accidents involving heavy commercial vehicles and attributable to lost wheel syndrome; and if he will make a statement. [35152]

Mr. Norris

My Department has not directly commissioned any research. However, we have been represented for many years on the British standards committee for wheels and tyres. This committee commissioned research by the Motor Industry Research Association into the problems of wheel loss from commercial vehicles. This research complemented work by Exeter university on behalf of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers and the Department of Trade and Industry, which contributed some £35,000 to the funding.

An analysis of the vehicle inspectorate's accident and defect database shows that since 1982 there have been 323 accident cases involving the loss of wheels from commercial vehicles. Of the cases where the inspectorate prepared a defect report, almost three-quarters were shown to be related to maintenance or abuse.