To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department with reference to the Answer of 18 November 2008, Official Report, column 269W, on speed limits: motorcycles, whether the ability to read rear licence plates on motorcycles is a requirement of the type approval process for average speed cameras. (242282)

The technical requirements which an average speed camera has to satisfy before it can be considered for type approval are set out in the Manual Distance/Time Speedmeter Handbook and the Automatic Distance/Time Speedmeter Handbook, published by the HO Scientific Development Branch and available on the HO website at:

http://scienceandresearch.homeoffice.gov.uk/hosdb/publications.

There is no specific requirement in respect of motorcycles or any other individual type of vehicle, since the cameras are intended to monitor vehicles of all types. The operational tests which devices undergo involve their use in a variety of locations and conditions and in respect of a random range of vehicle types.