§ Lord Harlechasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have reached any decision on maximum lorry weights following the closure of the period for responses to the Government's consultation document on lorry weights.
§ Viscount GoschenWe have received some 250 responses to the document and these are being considered very carefully and the issues involved will be analysed extensively. Until that work is complete there can be no decision on altering the present general 143WA maximum lorry weight. But the separate proposal put forward in the consultation document to allow lorries engaged in piggyback road/rail operations to operate at up to 44 tonnes, if they have six axles and road friendly suspension, has been generally welcomed as a measure to get more long distance freight on to rail. We have therefore asked officials to proceed with the necessary consultation on draft regulations to put this into effect. Subject to the outcome of that consultation, we expect the regulations to be laid shortly. This decision is independent of the outcome of the Government's consideration of the general maximum lorry weight.