§ Mr. Moneyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many accidents involving lorries carrying loads of potentially dangerous chemicals on public roads have been reported to his Department in the last year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. SharplesNotification is required only of accidents involving death or personal injury from substances to which the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act, 1928, has been applied. Four such accidents were notified during the 12 months ending on 31st December, 1971. All involved petroleum spirit.
§ Mr. Moneyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to enforce 225W compulsory labelling or other identification of potentially dangerous loads of chemicals carried by road.
§ Mr. SharplesThe labelling of packages and vehicles used in the carriage of inflammable liquids with a flash-point below 73 deg.F, and certain corrosive substances, is already subject to statutory control under the Inflammable Substances (Conveyance by Road) (Labelling) Regulations, 1971, and the Corrosive Substances (Conveyance by Road) Regulations, 1971. Similar controls over organic peroxides will be introduced soon, and requirements for other classes of dangerous substances will follow in due course.
§ Mr. Moneyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to set up a central organisation or panel of advisers to deal with the problem of identification of potentially toxic or corrosive loads in road accidents.
§ Mr. SharplesIf my hon. Friend has in mind the need to establish what toxic and corrosive substances should be the subject of control, and what provisions on such matters as labelling are required for that purpose, the Standing Advisory Committee on Dangerous Substances already exists to advise my right hon. Friend in matters of this kind.