§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if he will instruct the Road Transport Laboratory to undertake research into the safety of cross-loaded timber on commercial heavy goods vehicles; [136184]
486W(2) when he next expects to issue revised guidelines to road haulage contactors and their trade organisations about the safety requirements of cross-loaded timber on heavy goods vehicles; [136185]
(3) how many accidents have been reported in the last five years involving heavy goods vehicles carrying cross-loaded timber; [136186]
(4) what estimate he has made of the potential increase in the volume of timber to be transported from forests in the United Kingdom over the next five years; and how much of such timber he estimates will be carried on lorries using cross-loaded decks. [136187]
§ Mr. HillIt is estimated that there will be a 13 per cent. increase in timber production over the next five years. It is not clear how much of that increase will be transported as cross-loaded timber.
There is no detailed statistical information available about accidents caused by insecure loading of cross-loaded timber.
My Department, in conjunction with those from the Health and Safety Executive, the Forestry Commission and the timber industry, are investigating whether it is safe to carry cross-loaded timber on goods vehicles. The findings of these investigations may result in specific research being commissioned.
487WThe conclusions drawn from investigations and any resultant research will be added to the revision of my Department's Code of Practice on the Safety of Loads on Goods Vehicles. The industry has also agreed to amend its own code of practice in line with any conclusions. The review of my Department's code will be widely consulted on and, when complete, will be publicised within the haulage industry generally, including the trade organisations. The timescale will depend on what research, if any, is carried out and is unlikely to run beyond the end of 2001.