HC Deb 01 November 1995 vol 265 cc286-7
4. Mr. Rendel

To ask the President of the Board of Trade what was the approximate value of the goods exported from Britain in heavy goods vehicles in the last financial year. [38652]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Mr. Phillip Oppenheim)

The latest figures for the value of exports broken down by mode of transport are for 1992. Since then, the abolition of relevant customs documents for intra-EC trade has resulted in no figures being available.

In 1992, the value of seaborne exports carried by vehicles was £40.4 billion.

Mr. Rendel

Does the Minister agree that the extremely valuable trade carried by heavy goods vehicles can cause considerable environmental damage, especially where it is forced, on its way to the ports, on to roads that go through old market towns? Can he assure the House that he will do his utmost to ensure that the Government go ahead with the Newbury bypass as soon as possible?

Mr. Oppenheim

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's constituency concerns, but he would do better to address his remarks to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.

Mr. Atkins

Is my hon. Friend aware that an increasing proportion of the heavy goods vehicles that are used to improve our export trade are made in my constituency by Leyland Trucks? Does he recognise the achievement of the reformed Leyland Trucks in terms of its share of the heavy goods vehicle market, which is a direct result of the Government policies with which my hon. Friend and I have been associated for many years?

Mr. Oppenheim

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. UK commercial vehicle manufacturers took nearly 60 per cent. of the UK market last year. They export nearly 40 per cent. of their output. He is right that the policy of the Opposition was to intervene and pour in Government money, which would have created another disaster along the lines of the one that they created with British Leyland in the 1960s and 1970s. Our policy has allowed the company to recover not only in the domestic market but so that it is exporting at record levels.