HL Deb 24 July 1972 vol 333 cc1040-2
THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My 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 whether they and/or the Greater London Council have existing powers to stop foreign container lorries, many in excess of 32 tons, from rumbling through the centre of London on their way to their destinations, because it is their most direct route; and whether they intend to make use of those powers.

LORD SANDFORD

Yes, my Lords. As from July 31 this year vehicles can be inspected at British ports, and those which do not conform to British regulations can be impounded or returned to their country of origin. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has powers to control and regulate the use of any specific class of vehicle on trunk roads, and my right honourable friend the Minister for Transport Industries, is having discussions about a nationwide pattern of heavy lorry routes. The Greater London Council have powers to control and regulate the use of any specific class of vehicle on all non-trunk roads in Greater London, and my right honourable friend the Minister for Transport Industries, is consulting the G.L.C. about the use of these powers to deal with the problem of heavy lorries in London. There is already a prohibition of all vehicles of more than 3 tons unladen weight entering the City of London between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays.

THE EARL OF KINNOULL

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his very full reply. May I ask whether the Government are firmly resolved to maintain the 32-ton limit on heavy lorries or whether they will give way to pressure, which I understand is coming from abroad, to increase the limit up to 45 tons?

LORD SANDFORD

My Lords, that is another question. I will certainly deal with that matter if the noble Lord puts down a Question.

LORD BROWN

My Lords, will these powers continue after we have joined the Common Market, or will they lapse automatically and be replaced by others?

LORD SANDFORD

My Lords, they will continue. There will be further talks about harmonisation of road transport generally, but these powers will continue.

LORD DE CLIFFORD

My Lords, my noble friend said at the beginning of his Answer that the Government have taken powers from July 31, and that they can do this and they can do that. May I ask my noble friend whether they will?

LORD SANDFORD

My Lords, certainly the noble Lord may ask; and the answer is "Yes."

LORD REDESDALE

My Lords, would the Minister be kind enough to say whether the vehicles have to comply with the emission of exhaust requirements?

LORD SANDFORD

Again, my Lords, this is another matter, which I shall be pleased to deal with if the noble Lord puts down another Question.