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.

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.