§ Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Transport whether any special conditions are imposed upon the new petrol tank motors, with trailers attached, which are engaged in the transport of petrol for commercial purposes; whether he is aware that such vehicles impose additional degrees of road danger upon the public; and whether he will restrict the speed limit of such vehicles accordingly?
Mr. DAVIESI have been asked to reply to this question. Apart from conditions as to transport of petroleum, which may be imposed by a local authority under Section 9 of the Petroleum Act, 1871, on licensees within their area, there are no special Regulations in the matter, and my right hon. Friend has no power to make any. The Government is fully alive to the danger involved in the transport of petroleum by road; it was intended to deal with the subject in the Petroleum Bill of last Session, and the question of legislation will be revived as soon as Parliamentary time permits. It is doubtful whether, as the law stands at present, there is any power or whether it is practicable to impose any special speed limit on petroleum wagons, and the mere imposition of further speed limits would not, I am advised, suffice to deal with the problem.