§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give details of the type of future approval regulations which are likely to affect the manufacture of the Model 70 invalid tricycle;
(2) if he will give details of the type of approval regulations which prevent him from continuing the manufacture of the Model 70 invalid tricycle after March 1978.
§ Miss Maynardasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the specific International Safety Standards tricycles cannot be modified to meet; when they will become mandatory in the United Kingdom; and how much time manufacturers will be allowed to change designs between their introduction and enforcement.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe Motor Vehicles (Type Approval) (Great Britain) Regulations 1976, which impose requirements for interior fittings and external projections, take effect from 1st October 1978. The present tricycle does not meet these requirements. I understand also that a requirement relating to dual circuit braking, which is already included in a European Economic Community directive, may be incorporated in future type approval regulations to take effect in 1978. While it would not be impossible to modify the tricycle to meet these specific requirements, international standards of vehicle design are continuing to develop and the tricycle is nearing the end of its capability for further development. For example, it is not and cannot be modified to become as stable as a four-wheeled car.