asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department is conducting or has commissioned into methods of restricting the spray thrown up by vehicles in wet weather.

The Transport and Road Research Laboratory is examining means of reducing surface water.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I am delighted to hear he is doing something about it but that I wish he would accelerate the programme, because there is a very considerable design problem about which I would like the Government to be laying down safety criteria as soon as possible?

Yes, I share my hon. Friend's desire, but it would be very easy in a matter like this to produce a lot of rather bogus suggestions which look like action but which could be totally ineffective and rather annoying.