HC Deb 13 February 1980 vol 978 cc719-20W
Mr. Robert Atkins

asked the Minister of Transport what type approval regulations are required to be met in France and West Germany for the export of lorries manufactured in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Fowler

In France and the Federal Republic of Germany there are type approval regulations applying to both home produced and imported vehicles. These regulations include requirements on braking, lighting, steering, noise and exhaust emissions. However, it is open to manufacturers in this country to obtain voluntary type approvals from my Department in respect of those requirements which are subject to harmonised standards in either EEC Directives or United Nations Economic Commission for Europe regulations. EEC type approvals are valid within all Member countries, and UN/ECE approvals within all countries where the relevant regulation has been adopted.

Mr. Robert Atkins

asked the Minister of Transport (1) how many contraventions of type approval regulations for imported trucks have been the subject of prosecution in 1977, 1978 and 1979;

(2) what type approval regulations are required for trucks imported into the United Kingdom; and what steps are taken to enforce such regulations.

Mr. Fowler

Lorries made in or imported into this country are not subject to any general type approval scheme, but permanently imported vehicles, like home-produced vehicles, are subject to the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations and the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations. Compliance with the regulations on lights and light signalling devices, mirrors and diesel smoke, which apply harmonised standards set out in EEC or United Nations Economic Commission for Europe legislation, entails obtaining specific approvals or certificates from the competent authorities.

Enforcement of regulations is primarily a matter for the police. In addition, lorries on the roads are subject to periodic inspection under statutory testing schemes and to roadside spot-checks by my examiners acting in collaboration with the police.

Information is not readily available on the numbers of imported lorries subject to prosecutions for contravention of the regulations.