§ 11. Mr. Parrisasked the Secretary of State for Transport when his Department hopes to reach agreement with the Derbyshire county council on the strengthening of bridges in the county.
§ Mrs. ChalkerIt is for county councils to decide on the bridge strengthening necessary on their roads to meet the needs of traffic. Their expenditure proposals are taken into account in the annual transport supplementary grant settlement. My Department has been preparing, with county councils and other interested parties, a code of assessment for highway bridges and structures, which we shall publish shortly. This will provide a basis on which to prepare a programme of strengthening where necessary.
§ Mr. ParrisI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Is she aware that Derbyshire county council claims that bridge strengthening is necessary because of the new heavier lorries? I believe that to be a disputable claim, but until it is settled, several bridges—none in Chesterfield —are subject to weight restrictions. We feel that we are being held hostage until an agreement is reached.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI am aware of the Derbyshire county council's claims. A new code of assessment for bridges is needed, not because of the introduction of 38-tonners, but because of the general volume of present-day traffic. The axle spacing on new vehicles has been restricted in such a way as to make their loading on bridges no greater than that of other heavy lorries, except for a marginal increase of about 3 per cent. on a small minority of short span bridges.
§ Mr. FlanneryMay I support the hon. Member for Derbyshire, West (Mr. Parris) in his application to have the bridges strengthened? Might I add that it would be helpful for him to be safe when walking across the bridges to talk to all of the unemployed in west Derbyshire to tell them that they have enough money, just as he told the people in the north-east?
§ Mrs. ChalkerIf the hon. Gentleman wants to know the state of transport supplementary grant for Derbyshire, I can tell him. During the current year we accepted 95 per cent. of Derbyshire's bid for road maintenance and 92 per cent. of its bid for capital expenditure. For 1984–85 we have accepted 91 per cent. of its bid for maintenance—that represents an increase of more than 30 per cent. over four years. For capital expenditure there is an increase of 21 per cent. over last year.
§ Mr. SnapeIs the Minister aware that the chairman of the highways committee of Derbyshire county council has written to me about the number of heavy goods vehicles in that part of the world and the extent to which they are overloaded? Has not the problem worsened since July last year when the Minister's Department sent out a circular to licensing authorities throughout the country about non-prosecution when heavy goods vehicles are up to 10 per cent. overloaded? Is it not the case that heavy goods vehicles are now running around our roads with loads of up to 42 tonnes, which is in direct contravention of the House's decision to set the maximum at 38 tonnes?
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe maximum weight for vehicles is 38 tonnes on five axles, and it so remains. The letter written as an advice note about uniformity to local authority trading standards officers has been a matter for their discussion. The hon. Gentleman knows that the traffic commissioners are independent enforcement agents. They, together with the police and the trading standards officers, must decide on the most effective method of enforcement. To prohibit a vehicle which is overweight, which they are encouraged to do, involves an immediate penalty, backed by prosecution—[Interruption]—If the hon. Gentleman will keep quiet for a moment and stop exaggerating, as he usually does, I will tell him that enforcement is prohibition, backed by prosecution. The licensing authorities have been told to use the increased resources which they have been given, and the increased number of weighbridges, to make the most effective enforcement possible with a maximum weight of 38 tonnes.
§ Mr. HigginsWill the Minister none the less make it absolutely clear that there is to be no discretion on the limit laid down by Parliament and that people who exceed the limit should be prosecuted?
§ Mrs. ChalkerAs with any enforcement of our law, if there is a minor infringement—
§ Mrs. Chalker—a warning is given. But I do not call even 5 per cent. minor, and I have made it absolutely clear that effective enforcement must be carried out by the traffic commissioners. I give my right hon. Friend the complete assurance that that is being done.