§ 33. Sir R. THOMASasked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the damage done to all classes of roads by the ribbed iron wheels of heavy tractors, his Department contemplates drafting any Regulations to restrict the use of vehicles using wheels of this kind?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI am reluctant to take piecemeal action under the strictly limited powers in respect of locomotives conferred upon me by existing Statutes, but so soon as amending legislation on the lines of the draft Road Traffic Bill is passed it is my intention to deal comprehensively with the construction and use of heavy road vehicles generally.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYDoes the right hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that iron-ribbed wheels do far more damage than any other traffic and that this traffic should be on the railways instead of on the roads?
§ 37. Sir ALFRED KNOXasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the effect upon local authorities of the absence of power to limit the number, size and weight of heavy transport in the areas they administer; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Colonel ASHLEYCounty councils already have powers under the Roads 959 Act, 1920, to apply to me for Orders prohibiting or restricting the use of heavy motor vehicles on roads which are unsuitable for them. In view of the wide radius of action of modem road transport, traffic restrictions cannot be regarded as a matter of purely local interest, and powers to impose them must, I think, necessarily be subject to the control of a central authority.