Transport and Road Research Laboratory

HC Deb 07 December 1979 vol 975 cc383-5W

Mr. Wheeler

asked the Minister of Transport if he proposes to extend the range of research at the Transport and Road Research Laboratory to include testing the security effectiveness of motor

H6/74, dual three-lane carriageways would be appropriate. They do not, in my Department's view, exceed it by such a margin as to warrant the economic and environmental consequences of building a dual four-lane motorway now. The design of the structures allows for widening to dual four-lanes if this proves necessary. I do not think that I would be justified in reopening the decision at this stage in view of the further delay to this section of the M25 which would result.

Mr. Dudley Smith

asked the Minister of Transport how many miles of (a) new trunk motorway route, (b) new trunk dual carriageway route, (c) new trunk single carriageway route and (d) substantially improved trunk route were opened for use in each of the last five years; and what are the estimated figures for 1979 and 1980.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The information readily available is as follows:

Cars so as to assist in crime prevention and to publish reports thereon.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

While both my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and my right hon. Friend recognise the importance of the security effectiveness of motor cars and are in close touch with the industry on this matter, testing would not be appropriate for the Transport and Road Research Laboratory, except where safety might be involved.

Mr. Wheeler

asked the Minister of Transport how much money is spent annually on crash testing of cars at the Transport and Road Research Laboratory; and whether the research results are made fully available to the public.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

As part of its programme on protection of vehicle occupants the Transport and Road Research Laboratory is developing impact test procedures to ensure that those proposed for legislation are effective and based on sound principles. A series of angled barrier and other tests has been carried out using several makes of car, each representative of a different layout. Information on the tests and summaries of the results are contained in TRRL leaflet LF 689, and other more technical papers, all of which are obtainable from the Laboratory. I am sending copies to the hon. Member.

It is not possible to isolate the costs of the vehicle tests but the cost of the area of research of which they are part has been in the order of £165,000 per annum for the last three years.