Bridges (Yorkshire and Humberside)

HC Deb 25 February 1981 vol 999 cc869-70

11. Mr. Hooley

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if prior to reaching a conclusion on the implementation of the Armitage report, he will cause a study to be made of the number of bridges in Yorkshire and Humberside which would need to be strengthened if lorries of the size envisaged in that report were permitted to use them.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

No, Sir. The Armitage recommendations for heavier lorries were framed specifically to avoid the need for any strengthening of bridges.

Mr. Hooley

Will the Minister disregard the strident propaganda of the road transport lobby on this issue and examine ways in which long-distance heavy loads can be carried more frequently by rail and by water? The investment needed for that would obviate the need for the very heavy lorries.

Mr. Clarke

I try to avoid strident propaganda from all sections of the transport industry. I hope that I can refute a myth—that the armitage recommendations require millions of pounds to be spent on strengthening our bridges. We are anxious to look at possible ways of improving section 8 procedures, amongst other means, to find better methods for transferring traffic from road to rail, and even water, where that proves to be feasible.

Mr. Sheerman

Is the Minister aware that all the costs should be borne in mind before a decision is made on this very important subject—not only the strengthening of bridges, but even the impact of heavy lorries on road markings, which are surely the cheapest way of ensuring road safety? This is a very important area, which should be considered before any decision is made on Armitage.

Mr. Clarke

I agree that the cost part of the problem is very important. That is why we are taking steps in the Transport Bill to alter the system of heavy goods vehicle taxation, to make sure that the heaviest lorries pay their proper share of road costs.

Mr. Hardy

Before the Minister reaches any conclusion on the Armitage report, whether in respect of bridges or anything else, will he guarantee properly to consult highway authorities? Can he name any local authority, parish council or community council that is in favour of the proposals?

Mr. Clarke

We are consulting widely. One of the first bodies that we consulted was the House of Commons. That is why we had a very quick debate. As my right hon. Friend has already said, Ministers as a whole have not yet considered the report. They will not make decisions on the matter until we have consulted all interested bodies and tried to come to a well-informed, balanced judgment on very difficult issues.