Written question asked by Viscount Thurso (Liberal Democrat) on Friday, 26 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 6 December 2004. It was answered by David Jamieson (Labour) on Monday, 6 December 2004 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Dept for Transport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will place in the Library the results of the wheel loss survey completed on 30th April 1997; and what steps have been taken in the light of these results. - Copies of report in Library, and ref to DETR leaflet giving guidance on appropriate measures to reduce wheel loss. (Dep 04/1985).

Answer: John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will place in the Library the results of the wheel loss survey completed on 30 April 1997; and what steps have been taken in the light of these results. [201196] Mr. Jamieson: Copies of the report have been placed in the House Library. Although the report was aimed primarily at assessing the size of the problem, it also indicated that a major contributing factor was lack of adequate maintenance and checking of wheel fixings. The then Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions issued a leaflet, in association with relevant stakeholders such as the Freight Transport Association, giving guidance on appropriate measures to reduce wheel loss. Copies of the leaflet are available in the Library. A further piece of research into the incidence of heavy goods vehicle wheel loss, commissioned by my Department, will report soon, and more work is under consideration for launch next year. In addition, there are a number of initiatives such as the Heavy Vehicle Accident Study in which wheel loss will form one of a variety of issues investigated.

Secondary information