Hansard

Motor Vehicles (European Community Directives)

Volume 979: debated on Friday 29 February 1980

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Mr. Heddle

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether, in the light of EEC directives 7l /320/EEC, 74/61/ EEC, 73/132/EEC, 74/408/EEC, 75/ 524/EEC, 77/538/EEC and further directives regarding reversing lamps, side repeating direction indicators, hazard warning devices, sear belt anchorages, interior fittings, windscreen demisters and defrosters, amended protective steering and the flammability of material, he has any plans to increase the unladen weight of motor tricycles from 410 kgs, as defined in the Motor Vehicle (Driving Licences) Regulation 1976, to at least 425 kgs; and if he will make a statement;(2) whether in the light of EEC directives 71/320/EEC, 74/61;EEC, 74/132/EEC, 74/408/EEC, 75/524/EEC, 77/538/EEC and further directives regarding reversing lamps, side repeating direction indicators, hazard warning devices, seat belt anchorages, interior fittings, windscreen demisters and defrosters, amended protective steering and the flammability of material, he has any plans to increase the unladen weight of motor cycles from 406.42 kg to at least 425 kg, as defined in the Road Traffic Act 1972, section 19(4): and if he will make a statement;(3) whether in the light of EEC directives 71/320/EEC, 74/61/EEC, 74/132/EEC, 74/408/EEC, 75/524/EEC, 77/538/EEC and further directives regarding reversing lamps, side repeating direction indicators, hazard warning devices, seat belt anchorages, interior fittings, windscreen demisters and defrosters, amended protective steering and the flammability of material, he has any plans to increase the unladen weight of schedule 1 vehicles (three-wheeler) from 419.12 kg. as defined in the Vehicle (Excise) Act 1971 to at least 425 kg.; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

I appreciate that the weight limits in the enactments specified present difficulties for the manufacturers of three-wheeled vehicles which are currently near the borderline in each case, here are a number of complexities, including international ones attached to increasing these limits. I shall, however, consider the case carefully and urgently.