HC Deb 05 April 1978 vol 947 cc429-30
17. Dr. Hampson

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he is now satisfied that all classes of lorry are paying their full track costs.

Mr. William Rodgers

A small proportion of lorries, mainly heavy long-distance lorries, still fail to meet their attributable road costs. It remains the Government's intention that all should eventually do so.

Dr. Hampson

Is the Minister aware that it is constituents in towns such as Otley and Ripon, in my constituency, who keep asking this sort of question, because of the unbearable pressure of these heavy, long-distance juggernauts that these places must face? Will he make sure that they get out of the towns by giving priority to bypasses for historical and small towns such as these?

Mr. Rodgers

Yes, indeed. I think that the White Paper published yesterday made clear that we see a particular priority in the coming years, less for completing something that used to be called the strategic road network than looking at the environmental problems—though this sometimes cuts both ways—of small towns and villages which are damaged by heavy goods vehicles; although, of course, that is within a framework in which we hope that more freight will go by rail. We intend that all lorries should in due course pay their full costs.

Mr. Dalyell

What has become of the Leitch Committee's recommendations for comparison of road and rail schemes where direct alternatives arise?

Mr. Rodgers

I think that my hon. Friend will recall that I accepted the main principles of all the recommendations in the Leitch Report when it was published in January. They are, substantially, embodied in the White Paper publishecl yesterday. I am very anxious to judge any new major schemes for roads against the prospects of the railways meeting the same need.