Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's policy is on the mandatory use of (a) snow tyres and (b) snow chains by the emergency services in severe winter weather.

The emergency services are to be commended for doing an excellent job in such difficult conditions.

The Department does not have a policy on the use of winter tyres and snow chains. The decision on whether to fit them relates to local winter driving conditions, which will vary from region to region and different times. The emergency services are best placed to make a judgement on whether the use of these tyres and chains can enhance the safety of their staff and the effectiveness of the work they do.

Snow chains are an option that is available for use in particularly challenging road conditions and while the emergency services may choose to make them available, it may fall to the driver to choose when to use them.