§ 38. Mr. Hockingasked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce a regulation to prohibit the use of trunk roads by heavy goods vehicles between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Sundays during the period of British Summer Time, in order to relieve congestion on the roads.
§ Mr. MarplesNo, Sir. The movement of heavy goods vehicles is much less on Sundays than on other days. Its total prohibition would have a serious effect upon supplies. I do however ask hauliers to limit traffic on summer weekends.
§ Mr. HockingIs my right hon. Friend aware that this system works perfectly well in Western Europe, particularly in Western Germany and Holland? Will not he have another look at the matter?
§ Mr. MarplesThe heavy traffic on Sundays is very much less than on other days. From Monday to Friday, it averages 20 million vehicle miles, on Saturdays 9 million vehicle miles, and on Sundays 3 million vehicle miles, so I think that we are dealing with the weekend traffic pretty well.
§ Mr. LiptonHas the Minister ever had to drive behind a giant transformer or an aeroplane being carted along the Great North Road on a Sunday?
§ Mr. MarplesI have travelled behind a transformer but never behind an aeroplane.