Heavy Goods Vehicles: Weight Checks (Hansard, 26 April 1989)

HL Deb 26 April 1989 vol 506 cc1265-7 1265

§ Lord Boyd-Carpenter asked Her Majesty's Government:

§ How many European vehicles have, in the most recent period of 12 months for which figures are available, been found to exceed the weight or dimension limits permitted by law on English roads; and how many were refused entry into the country on these grounds.

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Lord Brabazon of Tara)
My Lords, in the 12 months to 31st March 1989 the department's traffic examiners weighed 129,007 U.K. and non-U.K. heavy goods vehicles, including 19,027 vehicles weighed in the ports. Of these, 10,624 vehicles were prohibited from further movement for exceeding U.K. weight limits, vehicle dimensions or drivers' hours rules. They included 3,284 non-U.K. vehicles prohibited at the ports or inland check sites.

§ Lord Boyd-Carpenter
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that clear and comprehensive Answer. Is it now the policy to check any vehicle which appears excessive either in weight or dimensions?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, we propose this summer to introduce a trial in parallel with our present manual checks which will comprise new automatic weighing equipment at five ferry ports. The equipment will check the majority of heavy goods vehicles coming in at those ports. Subject to the outcome of the trial we shall consider similar installations in other ports.
The figures I gave my noble friend comprise an increase of nearly 50 per cent. in the total number of vehicles weighed and an increase also of about 50 per cent. in numbers weighed at ports compared with the previous year. I hope that my noble friend draws encouragement from that fact.

Lord Underhil
l: My Lords, the statistics given by the Minister, particularly the non-U.K. element, are certainly disconcerting. Does the noble Lord recall —I am sure he does—that only recently both Houses of Parliament passed regulations to deal with the weighing of heavy goods vehicles and the stability of roll-on roll-off vessels while in British ports? Has the matter been raised with the European Council of Transport Ministers? It is there that the problem 1266 should be raised if we are to ensure that vehicles making for the United Kingdom are weighed in continental ports.

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, that is a slightly different point. The regulations introduced recently, as the noble Lord is aware, were for ferry safety purposes. Therefore, we weigh vehicles only on outbound ferries. That is to ensure the safety of merchant shipping.
As to inbound weights, we obviously take note of the European Commission proposals on the matter; we regard what we are trying to do at our ports as not conflicting with the intention of the directive to speed up flows at frontiers.

§ Lord Mowbray and Stourton
My Lords, I have asked my noble friend this question before. Can he tell me whether the present European ruling on axle weight is satisfactory? Will it be increased either in the near future or the far future?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, the U.K. drive axle weight limit for five- or six-axle vehicles is 10.5 tonnes. The gross weight limit for these vehicles is 38 tonnes. Both limits are significantly lower than the weight limits in the EC which has a 40-tonne limit for international traffic. Our derogation from the limit is temporary. We have said that we cannot accept any increase in the total axle weight until our roads and bridges have been surveyed and strengthened where necessary. That will inevitably take some years to complete. No early increase in lorry weights is contemplated. In any case, any increase would be brought into effect only with the approval of Parliament.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, the noble Lord said something which I thought rather disquieting. He said that our derogation was temporary. What precisely does that mean? Given the interesting and important figures which he mentioned in his initial Answer, what will be the position in 1992? Shall we then have to comply with the Community regulations? Will all these vehicles which are now banned be able to come here without difficulty?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
No, my Lords, not by 1992. I am not certain; I do not think that the derogation has a definite time limit. However, as I said, we shall have to be satisfied that our roads and bridges are capable of carrying the increased weights. That might take some years beyond 1992 to achieve.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, is it not a fact that the derogation will automatically come to an end in 1992? Will the noble Lord be quite clear about that?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, no. I think I can be quite clear that our derogation does not necessarily become invalid in 1992. I think that it is not necessarily part of the 1992 process., if I may put it like that.

1267

The Viscount of Falkland
My Lords, surely the ability to contain the problem depends upon an adequate inspectorate. Is the inspectorate up to strength? Does the Minister foresee a need to increase it?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, the inspectorate has 63 enforcement weighbridge sites. I believe we plan to increase that figure to 85 over the next two or three years. However, the figure applies to the whole country and not necessarily just to the ports. Obviously, we shall need sufficient numbers of people to enforce that new measure.

§ Lord Somers
My Lords, until this provision comes into being, would it not be possible to limit the vehicles concerned strictly to certain roads that are capable of taking them? Is that carried out at present?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, that is a rather different question to the one on the Order Paper, which relates to the number of vehicles which are found to be overweight.

§ Lord Stoddart of Swindon
My Lords, the Minister said that any increase in the weight limit of lorries to 40 tonnes or beyond would depend upon the decision of this Parliament. But is it not the case that under the Single European Act, if a majority of Ministers voted in favour of higher limits on lorries, those higher limits would be imposed upon this country, whether or not Parliament agreed?

§ Lord Brabazon of Tara
My Lords, that point is somewhat wide of the Question on the Order Paper. Nevertheless, it is a very important point. The Question on the Order Paper refers to the number of vehicles which have been found to be overweight. I have given an answer as regards the 40 tonne limit. My understanding is that that limit can only be brought into effect with the approval of both Houses of Parliament in this country. As regards any further detail on that matter, I shall have to write to the noble Lord.