Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 9 July (HL5647), which items of equipment related to the prevention or reduction of road accidents have been awaiting type approval for longer than 18 months; and in each case, why such items have not yet been approved.

Six items of equipment originally sought type approval more than 18 months ago (i.e. before 20th January 2019). Of these, four items are awaiting manufacturer information, decision or action as follows:

• Awaiting results to evaluate following supplier testing
• Waiting for the supplier to provide sufficient clarity on the changes made to a currently type approved product
• Outstanding action on supplier to implement necessary changes to comply with the requirements for type approval

In a further case the manufacturer has now made the necessary changes required for type approval and a report to the Home Office is undergoing technical review.

In the final case, a previously withdrawn aspect of an otherwise type approved product was resubmitted with improvements in April 2019 and a report to the Home Office is currently undergoing technical review.