§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what safety regulations govern the transportation of petroleum by road; what plans there are to review the regulations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleThe regulations for transport of dangerous goods by road are made under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. Those affecting the transport of petroleum are:
- The Dangerous Substances (Carriage of Dangerous Substances in Road Tankers and Tank Containers) Regulations 1992;
- The Classification, Packaging and Labelling of Dangerous Substances Regulations 1984;
- The Road Traffic (Carriage of Dangerous Substances in Packages etc.) Regulations 1992;
- The Road Traffic (Training of Drivers of Vehicles Carrying Dangerous Goods) Regulations 1992.
The Health and Safety Executive and the Department of Transport regularly review the regulations in the light of changes to international recommendations, developments in technology and practical experience.
§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents since 1982 involved the transportation of petroleum by road; if he will list the number of fatalities and injured; how many of those accidents occurred in residential areas; and if he will list the number of fatalities and injured in those areas.
§ Mr. Kenneth CarlisleThe information is not available in the form requested. There have been three fatalities and few serious injuries resulting from the transport of petroleum by road since 1982. There were 440 reported incidents of overturning or other serious damage, release of product of fire involving road tankers carrying all types of dangerous substances from 1982 to 1991. Incidents occurring in residential areas cannot readily be separately identified.
§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents since 1982 involved the transportation of petroleum by rail; if he will list the number of fatalities and injured; how many of those accidents occurred in residential areas; and if he will list the number of fatalities and injured in those areas.
§ Mr. FreemanThe Health and Safety Executive's railway inspectorate has a record of all reported freight train accidents.
The inspectorate is aware of five serious accidents during this period involving petroleum trains, none of which gave rise to death or major injury.