Government inquiry into dangerous loads
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• The Government is unhappy with the laws covering the carriage of dangerous substances. and is making a thol'ough investigation to see what changes are necessary.
This emerged during a Commons discussion about the risks of taking dangerous loads by road—Mr Richard Sharpies, Minister of State at the Home Office, said that the Government was looking at the whole field of legislation on this subject.
He pointed out that the problem was somewhat complex because the existing powers to deal with this matter—they were too narrow, he observed—arose under the Explosives Act, 1875 and the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act, 1928.
A call for a change in the law had come from Mr Leslie Spriggs (Labour, St Helens), who said that the latest regulations, brought into force this year, fell far short of what was required.
He made special mention of tankers carrying dangerous loads without any identification whatever, and said that the emergency services which had to deal with accidents had no easy and clear means of identifying the substance being carried. All dangerous substances should be clearly labelled, said Mr Spriggs.
Mr Sharpies noted that the Standing Advisory Committee on Dangerous Substances was considering a number of proposals for improving the arrangements for conveyance by road.
Mr James Scott-Hbpkins (Tory, Derbyshire West) maintained that part of the trouble was that unsuitable vehicles were using unsuitable roads, and he asked whether legislation was needed to deal with this.
This was part of the problem, agreed Mr Sharpies, but the matter went much further than that, which was why it as being examined in the very widest context.
• As from Monday August 2 the head office address of Bergougnan Tyre Co Ltd is PO Box 203, Redlands, CouLsdon, Surrey CR3 2UH (01-668 6121). Full delivery services to London and the Home Counties will be available from the new premises.