§ Mr. SpearingTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when he authorised the publication of his Department's proposals to extend the definition of electrically assisted pedal cycles which are exempt from the definition of motor vehicle found in the Road Traffic Acts; if he will list(a) the names of the members of the working group of the vehicle standards and engineering division of his Department and the names of the organisations which they represent and (b) the nature and 680W number of the bodies or persons to whom the letter of 21 August, which set out options for such extension, was distributed. [40446]
§ Mr. BowisThe Government have made no such proposals. They have, however, sought views in this area. I authorised publication of this consultation document on 19 August. The working group was not an internal departmental working group. Representatives attended from the following outside organisations: the Electric Vehicle Association, the Motorcycle Industry Association, W. R. Pashley Ltd., Sinclair Research Ltd., Citibike Manufacturing Company Ltd. and TGA Electric Leisure. In addition, there were officials from the Department's vehicle standards and engineering division; road safety division; transport policy unit; deregulation unit; local transport policy division; and driver and vehicle licensing policy division; and from the Department of Trade and Industry's vehicle division and deregulation division.
Approximately 450 organisations and individuals were sent a copy of the consultation document. They included road safety organisations, local authorities, associations, bodies representing the motor vehicle and pedal cycle industries, user groups, the police and transport consultants. They also included all the people who attended the forum on cycling policy organised by the Department on 10 July.