Written question asked by David Crausby (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 June 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 30 June 1998. It was answered by Glenda Jackson (Labour) on Tuesday, 30 June 1998 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to deal with problems arising from spray emanating from heavy goods vehicles; what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current procedures. - Inc ref to EC Directive 91/226EC.

Answer: Mr. Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to deal with problems arising from spray emanating from heavy goods vehicles; what assessment he has made of the adequacy of current procedures; and if he will make a statement. [47766] Ms Glenda Jackson: The UK has led the way in the development of spray suppression equipment. Indeed, the standards for EC Directive 91/226EC, on spray suppression, were largely based on the UK requirements. Further development of spray suppression devices has proved difficult because of the problems in accurately measuring spray which makes the assessment of the efficiency of the equipment difficult to gauge. However, spray from goods vehicles is a problem recognised by several EU Member States. Discussions are planned by the European Commission to look at the whole problem.

Secondary information