Heavy Lorries

HC Deb 01 December 1982 vol 33 cc261-2

14. Mr. Dykes

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what representation he has received from the public about heavier lorries since his announcement of 4 November.

Mr. David Howell

I have received some 35 letters from the public since my announcement on 4 November.

Mr. Dykes

Is my right hon. Friend sincerely convinced, after the generous vote of the House last Thursday for heavier lorry weights, that the heavy lorry operators will accept the overriding need for additional restrictions on the movement and parking of such lorries?

Mr. Howell

The Government's view is that there should not merely be acceptance by the hauliers, but that the existing powers, which my hon. Friend played no small part in providing, should be used more vigorously. The Government are determined to see that they are so used. We have said that our decisions on the transport supplementary grant will be influenced by the vigour with which various county councils make use of the restrictions on the movement of heavy lorries.

Mr. Roy Hughes

Has the Secretary of State received a request from Gwent county council to meet a deputation about the difficulties on the Severn bridge, which will be aggravated by the order authorising. the use of heavier lorries? Will the Minister assure the House that the work of repairing and strengthening that vital bridge will be carried out on a 24-hour basis?

Mr. Howell

I am not aware of having received such a request. The subject of repairs to the Severn bridge has received close consideration and the matter is proceeding. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are reviewing the longer-term needs of the Severn bridge.

Mr. Squire

Is not part of the reason for the much greater acceptance of the Government's proposals on heavy lorries the undertaking to build more bypasses? Will my right hon. Friend carefully review the decision not to build a bypass on the A13 through the Rainham, Essex, part of my constituency?

Mr. Howell

The Government have decided substantially to increase the bypass programme, but that is not the only reason for the support for our much more comprehensive package of lorry controls. We need to tackle all aspects of the matter—the quality of the vehicles, where they go, where they are routed, bypasses and enforcement. The overall package has rightly been welcomed, because those aspects have been neglected for many years.

Mr. Skinner

Is the Minister aware that when the Labour Opposition mounted an attack on heavy lorries last Thursday, with a vote to try to stop their introduction—

Mr. Nicholas Winterton

The Opposition were heavily defeated.

Mr. Skinner

—we were heavily defeated because, among others, the Gang of Four and the leader of the Liberal Party were missing? Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware that some of us are wondering whether there is a Japanese lorry invasion on the horizon?

Mr. Howell

The heavy defeat was partly because common sense is on the side of fuller loads on quieter and more efficient lorries and because a good many of the hon. Gentleman's hon. Friends in the trade union movement realised that a vote against the regulations was a vote against jobs, about which the hon. Gentleman waxes eloquent, and rightly stayed away.