37. Mrs. Manningasked the Minister of Transport the outcome of his negotiations on 4th November, 1948, with the representatives of the workers' side of the Road Haulage Central Wages Board on the raising of the speed limit from 20 m.p.h. to 30 m.p.h, of heavy goods vehicles.
§ Mr. BarnesI am awaiting information as to the result of further discussions which were to take place between both sides of the industry.
Mrs. ManningSince my right hon. Friend will have to come to some decision on these discussions, does he think that a vehicle of 22-tons gross is likely to be able to pull in an emergency at 30 m.p.h. as easily as it could pull up if it were going at 20 m.p.h.?
§ Mr. BarnesWhen a decision is finally taken it will come before this House, and any relevant points of that description can be considered then.
§ Mr. William ShepherdCan the Minister say when he expects to make a decision, in view of the fact that these vehicles of 22 tons are already regularly doing 30 m.p.h.?
§ Mr. BarnesI expect to make the decision in the very near future.