§ Baroness Thomas of Walliswoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment has been made of (a) the loss of revenue and (b) the additional danger of fire resulting from the installation of supplementary fuel tanks in vehicles entering the United Kingdom, both during transit via ferry and in a road accident. [HL52]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Lord Whitty)Supplementary fuel tanks have to meet the same safety standards as a vehicle's main fuel tank. There has been no assessment made of the loss of revenue or increased fire risk due to the use of supplementary fuel tanks.
§ Baroness Thomas of Walliswoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in the light of any safety hazards involved, operators of trains or ferries bringing lorries into the United Kingdom have any obligation to carry vehicles with supplementary fuel tanks. [HL53]
§ Lord WhittyEurotunnel's policy is to carry any petrol or diesel-fuelled vehicle that is permitted on the roads in the UK and France. Similarly, the carriage of roadworthy vehicles on ferries does not breach Merchant Shipping legislation.
§ Baroness Thomas of Walliswoodasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which agency is responsible for inspecting lorries entering the United Kingdom to see whether they are fitted with supplementary fuel tanks; and [HL54]
How many checks have been carried out at ports of entry during 1999 to detect the use of supplementary fuel tanks by drivers; and how many lorries have been detained as a result. [HL55]
§ Lord WhittyThe Vehicle Inspectorate (VI) conduct roadside enforcement checks on vehicles at ports and 67WA other roadside locations. However, it is not an offence for a vehicle to be fitted with a supplementary fuel tank and VI enforcement officers would not take enforcement action unless such a vehicle exhibited roadworthiness defects.