HL Deb 16 November 1998 vol 594 cc132-3WA
Viscount Simon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in the light of a partial collapse of a multi-storey car park in Wolverhampton and the safety barriers at a car park in Canterbury, they will:

  1. (a) consider the introduction of a compulsory structural inspection regime for car parks similar to the annual inspection and detailed five-year checks for highway bridges;
  2. (b) publish the instructions given to owners and operators of multi-storey car parks concerning examination for structural integrity; and
  3. (c) implement the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Structural Safety concerning car park safety. [HL3756]

Lord Whitty

Partial collapse of the Wolverhampton car park and failure of the safety barriers at the Canterbury car park are being investigated by the Health and Safety Executive. The department intends to await the final outcome of these investigations and that of the examination of the regulatory framework, including Building Regulations and the HSE legislation, before considering introduction of any compulsory structural inspection regime for car parks. Inspections of car parks should be carried out by the owners as a part of their maintenance responsibilities.

There are no instructions given to owners and operators of multi-storey car parks concerning examination for structural integrity.

The department has given careful consideration to the views expressed in the Eleventh Report of the Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS) on safety of car parks. However, the recommendations in this report are primarily addressed to the owners and operators of existing car parks. Officials of my department are considering whether there is any need to reinforce these within the regulatory framework.