Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to Answer of 11 June 2018 to Question 150572 on Members: Correspondence, when he plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Rochdale of 11 April 2018, reference number IW/0060, on the age of road vehicle tyres.

The guidance issued by the Department for Transport concerning the use of older tyres continues to be implemented into the maintenance regime of the bus and coach fleet. Official analysis suggests it has been effective. Out of 28,524 roadworthiness inspections conducted by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, the Agency found that approximately 0.23% of vehicles failed to meet the legal minimum requirements for tyres, and approximately 0.03% had tyres older than 10 years.

The Department for Transport has also discussed with a Traffic Commissioner and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency how to reinforce the advice provided to vehicle operators in relation to the age of tyres. Enhanced procedures are expected be in place shortly.

Separately, as previously announced to the House, a programme of research is underway that will report at the beginning of 2019. This research should provide a deeper understanding of the effect of age on the various materials used in tyre construction. The Government does not rule out further measures once this evidence is available.

A response to the Honourable Member’s letter had been held by officials in draft pending review of recent evidence, and I apologise for the delay. I have now written to the Honourable Gentleman separately setting out in more detail what the Department has done to address these issues.