§ Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the handbrake of the Army's FV430 range of armoured personnel carrier is: (a) separate from the vehicle's service braking and steering system; and (b) compliant with the requirements of the construction and use regulations; and if not, why not. [HL1198]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanFor the purposes of construction and use regulation 16, the FV430 is considered to be a "Tracked Heavy Motor Car, first use before 1st January 1968".
The FV430 handbrake is not separate from the vehicle's service braking and steering system. The handbrake function is achieved by securing the tiller-actuated service braking and steering system in the ON position by means of a ratchet mechanism. This arrangement complies with regulation 16, schedule 3, number 16 in that the parking brake (hand brake) "is so designed and constructed that … It can set so, as in the case of track laying vehicle, to lock the tracks". However, schedule 3, number 7 requires that "the application of any means of operation of a braking system shall not affect or operate the pedal or hand lever of any other means of operation". In this respect FV430 is not compliant and is operated under the terms of an exemption (the Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order 1979 (SI 1979 No 1198), Part II, Article 6) which authorises the Secretary of State for Defence to use specified vehicles notwithstanding that such vehicles do not comply in all respects with the requirements of the construction and use regulations.