§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the new labelling system for hazardous goods in transit published by the Health and Safety Commission.
§ Mr. KeyThe Health and Safety Commission published in June a consultative document, CD63, on proposals for new regulations on the classification, packaging and labelling of goods for carriage by road and rail in preparation for the opening up of rail freight services to private sector operators and in order to harmonise the rules for the carriage of dangerous goods by rail and road in line with the United Nations recommendations. A copy of the consultative document is in the Library. The Health and Safety Executive is now considering responses to it and I expect to receive the Commission's recommendations and draft regulations at the end of the year.