HC Deb 17 March 1986 vol 94 cc7-8
6. Mr. Chapman

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on his assessment of the effect of the Greater London council lorry ban which came into operation on 31 January.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Peter Bottomley)

I am not aware of any beneficial effects so far for Londoners in return for the considerable sums the exercise has cost.

Mr. Chapman

Will my hon. Friend tell the House how much this pointless exercise has cost London ratepayers? Does he agree that the best possible way to keep unnecessary lorry loads off the streets of London has been the construction and will be the completion of the M25 orbital motorway?

Mr. Bottomley

Yes, Sir. The M25 has reduced lorry mileage in London by over 20 per cent. and it has reduced the number of lorries on some major roads by 40 per cent. The lorry ban exercise has included 2,000 signs, 20,000 permits and 200,000 pages of application forms. It will probably cost £250,000 a year to run and the probable capital cost will be £2 million. It seems to me that that is not very good value for money.

Mr. Tony Banks

Is the Under-Secretary of State aware that large numbers of London residents support the lorry ban and want it to be enforced, and that the reason why it is not working as effectively as it should is that the Metropolitan police refuse to enforce it? Will he have a word with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department and get the law enforced, or is the Under-Secretary of State prepared to enforce only the pieces of law with which he agrees, not those with which he disagrees?

Mr. Bottomley

May I say to the honourable chairman of the Greater London council that if a little boy saw the honourable chairman in his clothes and pointed out that he was wearing none, the hon. Gentleman might be covered with embarrassment, despite his finery. I am unaware of any of the applications for exemption being turned down, so it is very difficult to see that the lorry ban is having any effect.

Mr. Stanbrook

Do the Government have any reason to believe that there is a demand for lorries to enter London unnecessarily?

Mr. Bottomley

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Neither lorry users nor local residents want lorries to be where they are not needed. The plain truth is that lorries do not go through London when it is unnecessary. That is where the M25 has helped. It is also worth noting that 250 width and weight restrictions are in force in London and that they are not so controversial as this apparent lorry ban.

Mr. Greenway

Is my hon. Friend the Minister aware that the Greater London council is said to have appointed 50,000 snoops to watch the police to see that they are doing their job? Would it not be better if the GLC were looking after residents whose homes are damaged by vibration and noise from heavy lorries than interfering with the course of law?

Mr. Bottomley

It would be sensible for people to spend a little more time looking at what the Government are trying to do to develop quieter lorries, to support sensible local lorry bans and to try to ensure that effort is put into worthwhile projects rather than into things which apparently have no beneficial effect.