§ Viscount Simonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What measures are being taken to draw up inspection guidelines for checking the structural condition of multi-storey car parks following evidence that some car parks may have hidden structural faults. [HL542]
§ Lord WhittyMy department is currently considering a proposal for funding to support the review and collation of information on deterioration, appraisal and repair performance and its comparison with current practice in car parks. The proposal has been made under the Construction Directorate's166WA Partners in Innovation funding scheme. If accepted, the review will assist the work of the Institution of Structural Engineers Task Group on Car Parks which is in the process of revising the report "Design recommendations for multi-storey and underground car parks"; and the work of the Institution of Civil Engineers, which has also appointed a working group on car parks. My department is also funding a project that will provide input to these two working groups on design, construction and on-site testing of car park barriers.
§ Viscount Simonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action the Health and Safety Executive is taking to ensure the safety of the public following the incident in November 1999 at Croydon's Dingwell Road multi-storey car park when a vehicle fell to the street below having been driven through the safety barriers on the fourth floor. [HL543]
§ Lord WhittyI am advised that the Metropolitan Police are pursuing an inquiry into this incident. It was not reportable under the RIDDOR Regulations 1995 and the local HSE inspectors have not investigated it. At present, HSE proposes no further action in relation to this specific incident. HSE is currently carrying out a joint review with the Department of Transport, Environment and the Regions of existing regulatory and enforcement regimes to determine whether adequate legislative cover is in place to ensure the continued structural stability of buildings for health and safety reasons. This will include car parks such as the Dingwell Road multi-storey car park.
§ Viscount Simonasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the recommendations of the Standing Committee on Structural Safety that multi-storey car park owners should undertake regular inspections of their structures will be implemented. [HL544]
§ Lord WhittyThese and other recommendations from the Standing Committee in Structural Safety (SCOSS) report are being considered as part of a current joint review of structural safety being undertaken by my department and the Health and Safety Executive.