§ 2.5 p.m.
§ LORD BOOTHBYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to impose restrictions upon the hours during which heavy commercial lorries will be allowed to use the streets of our cities and towns.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (LORD CHESHAM)My Lords, any general restriction upon the movement of heavy commercial lorries would have serious implications for industry. In towns, where speeds for all vehicles are severely restricted, the delays imposed upon private cars by heavy commercial vehicles are not such as to warrant discrimination against the latter, having regard to the wide economic consequences involved.
§ LORD BOOTHBYBut, my Lords, does not the noble Lord realise that if these very heavy commercial vehicles are allowed to crawl over the streets of our towns and cities at all hours of the day and night traffic within the next two or three years will grind to a halt?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, just as much as I realise, as is envisaged in the Buchanan Report, that if private cars containing one person per car are allowed to fill the streets, then industry too will grind to a halt.
§ LORD BOOTHBYWhy do you not deal with them both?
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, that is in course of action.
§ LORD MORRISON OF LAMBETHMy Lords, world the noble Lord care to prophesy, because it would be a great to relief to all of us, and tell us what is being done to deal with these problems by way of the suggestion of the noble Lord, Lord Boothby? He evidently knows. He had better tell us.
§ LORD CHESHAMMy Lords, I think that is the key to a fairly lengthy debate. If the noble Lord cares to put it on the Order paper, I shall be delighted to deal with it.