HC Deb 21 April 1931 vol 251 cc790-1
40. Mr. REMER

asked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been called to the inconvenience caused by the limitation of speed for vehicles carrying perishable goods, such as milk, under the Road Traffic Act; and if he will exercise his powers under Sub-section (4) of Section 10 of that Act to allow these vehicles to travel at the same speed as that allowed for the conveyance of horses?

The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Mr. Herbert Morrison)

I am not prepared to accept the suggestion that vehicles carrying perishable goods should be allowed to travel at speeds greater than those recently determined by Parliament in the First Schedule to the Road Traffic Act, 1930. While horses conveyed in motor vehicles constitute a light load, the laden weight of vehicles carrying perishable goods such as milk may reach the maximum laden weight allowed by law for the class to which the vehicle belongs.

Mr. REMER

is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the machines are the same machines and are carrying practically the same weight; is it not ridiculous that there should be different speeds, and how is anybody to know what they are carrying?

Mr. MORRISON

In the case of horses we know that the weight will not be unduly heavy. In the case of perishable goods, we know that the weight may be heavy.