Asked by: Earl Attlee (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that heavy goods vehicle tyres used by the Ministry of Defence that are more than 10 years old are not exported for use in developing countries; and what estimate they have made of the loss of income from such sales.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) routinely scraps used tyres through a contractor, therefore none are exported overseas. However, when tyres are attached to heavy goods vehicles, it is possible that those over 10 years old could be exported, as all ex-MOD vehicles are sold as seen. There is currently no loss of income associated with such vehicle sales.
Asked by: Earl Attlee (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of tyres fitted in single formation which are in use on vehicles used by the Ministry of Defence; and what estimate they have made of the cost in each of the next 10 years of replacing tyres that are 10 or more years old.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Details on the number of tyres fitted in single formation on vehicles used by the Ministry of Defence are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. No estimate of the cost of replacing tyres that are 10 or more years old has been made. All vehicles are maintained and serviced regularly, at which time tyres are replaced if they do not meet minimum legal and safety standards.
Asked by: Earl Attlee (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 4 April (HL14845), whether the Ministry of Defence adheres to the advice given in the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Guide to maintaining roadworthiness: Commercial goods and passenger carrying vehicles, published in November 2018, providing that the advice does not conflict with operational requirements.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has a dis-application from the statutory legislation that requires vehicles to undergo an Annual Roadworthiness Test and periodic Safety Inspections. Where Defence has dis-applications, the Secretary of State for Defence's Policy Statement for Health, Safety and Environmental Protection requires the MOD to maintain Departmental arrangements that produce outcomes that are, so far as reasonably practicable, at least as good as those required by UK legislation. As such, the MOD does conduct Annual Roadworthiness Test and periodic Safety Inspections to the standard contained in the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency guide to maintaining roadworthiness for commercial goods and passenger carrying vehicles.
Asked by: Earl Attlee (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Ministry of Defence intends to operate its white and green fleet of Heavy Goods Vehicles to at least as high a technical and safety standard as civilian commercial operators.
Answered by Earl Howe - Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Secretary of State for Defence's Policy Statement for Health, Safety and Environmental Protection (HS and EP) requires the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to comply with all applicable UK legislation when operating within the UK, including for the operation of its white and green fleet of Heavy Goods Vehicles. When operating overseas, the MOD applies UK standards and arrangements where reasonably practicable and, in addition, responds to host nations' relevant HS and EP expectations. Where MOD dis-applications, exemptions or derogations from UK legislation apply, the MOD is required to maintain Departmental arrangements that produce outcomes that are, so far as reasonably practicable, at least as good as those required by UK legislation.