§ 78. Mr. LESLIE B0YCEasked the Minister of Transport what are the speed limits for omnibuses and motor lorries, respectively, in Northern Ireland as compared with those applicable to England, Scotland, and Wales?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Mr. Pybus)As the reply to the question involves a tabular statement I will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the statement:
§ I assume that by motor lorries my hon. Friend means the heavier type of goods carrying vehicles, i.e., those of which the unladen weight exceeds 2½ tons. The comparative figures are:
35| Vehicles. | Speeds. | |
| Northern Ireland. | Great Britain. | |
| Motor omnibuses on pneumatic tyres | 25 m.p.h. | 30 m.p.h. |
| Motor omnibuses on solid tyres | 12 m.p.h. | 20 m.p.h. |
| Motor lorries (heavy motor cars) not drawing trailers — | ||
| (a) If all wheels are fitted with pneumatic tyres and— | ||
| (i) The registered axle weight of any axle does not exceed 4 tons | 20 m.p.h. | 20 m.p.h. |
| (ii) The registered axle weight of any axle exceeds 4 tons | 16 m.p.h. | |
| (b) If all wheels are not fitted with pneumatic tyres but are fitted with soft or elastic tyres. | 12 m.p.h. | 16 m.p.h. |
§ 79. Mr. BOYCEasked the Minister of Transport what are the comparative particulars of the licence duties on motor omnibuses and lorries in Northern Ireland as compared with those operating in England; and whether he is considering the desirability of requiring increased contributions from the heavier types of motor lorries towards the annual cost of maintenance of the roads in accordance with the recommendations in the final report of the Royal Commission on Transport?
§ Mr. PYBUSI am sending the hon. Member a comparative statement. The matter referred to in the second part of the question is one which it will no doubt be necessary to consider further when I have received the findings of the conference on rail and road transport.