§ 27. Mr. G. Campbellasked the Minister of Technology what estimate he has made of the reduction in manufacture in Great Britain of commercial vehicles exceeding 16 tons plated weight as a result of the provisions in the Transport Bill.
§ Mr. BennAs forecast in the White Paper (Command 3470), the volume of traffic likely to be transferred to rail will be rather more than offset by the growth in the remaining road traffic. Vehicles of over 16 tons plated weight will share in this forecast growth. There should therefore be no decline in demand.
§ Mr. CampbellIs the Minister aware that the economic efficiency and growing 22 popularity of large British lorries will be undermined when the frustrating processes proposed in the Transport Bill can be avoided if smaller vehicles are used? Is he aware that one estimate by manufacturers is that the reduction in the home market will be 25 per cent.
§ Mr. BennPart of the hon. Gentleman's Question involves transport policy. He asked me whether there would be a decline in demand for these vehicles. The answer is that there will not. If there were not the misleading propaganda put about by the hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friends it is unlikely that the industry would be adversely affected.
§ Mr. CampbellIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.