§ 2.42 p.m.
LORD DE CLIFFORDMy 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, in view of the continuing accidents and damage to property involving heavy commercial vehicles through ports in the South-East of England, whether they will, in consultation with the councils affected, obtain agreed maximum weight and size limits for existing roads and villages and prohibit entry and departure of any vehicles exceeding these limits through these ports until such time as suitable roads and by-passes have been constructed.
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, ail vehicles entering this country must comply with British regulations on maximum weight and size. Local authorities have power to ban heavy commercial vehicles from local roads where there are suitable alternative routes, and a circular has recently been issued giving them guidance on the use of these powers, which will be strengthened by the Heavy Commercial Vehicles (Controls and Regulations) Bill which your Lordships have recently considered. High priority is given to improving the routes to ports, and pending their completion safety measures on the existing routes are provided wherever possible.
LORD DE CLIFFORDMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for his reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that there are continual protests about the damage which is being done? I think I am correct—no doubt he will tell me if I am not—in saying that, even though a council makes an order, the Minister can override it. Will the noble Lord ensure that there will be consultation with councils so that a correct assessment can be made of the weights and sizes of vehicles which are now going through the villages?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, I can give the assurance that the Department of the Environment are more than happy to consult with local 1503 authorities to try to get any amelioration possible.
§ LORD SHINWELLMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether, in view of previous Questions that I have ventured to ask on this matter, he will agree that the relevant part of the Question is the matter of consultation? In view of the statement made only this morning by Mr. Rippon, regarding the roads connecting with the Maplin project, that people are to be consulted, will the noble Lord give an assurance that in this important matter affecting the convenience of many people in the South-East and elsewhere there will be adequate consultation?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONYes, my Lords. "Consultation" is an "in" word and it is being practised more and more. What we have to consider also is not only the convenience of people on these routes, but the livelihood of the nation as a whole.
§ LORD BOOTHBYMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that unless something is done fairly soon, about heavy commercial vehicles not only in the ports but in the centres of the cities in our country, traffic in this country will become absolutely chaotic?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, that is one of the objects of the national strategic route network which we are pushing ahead.
LORD DE CLIFFORDMy Lords, would my noble friend give the House an assurance that where cuts in road construction are planned they will be minimised in certain areas to give relief to the small towns and villages which are suffering at this moment?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lord, I think I have already indicated, and I confirm this to my noble friend, that where villages on main routes are badly affected, we shall give every priority to road construction.
§ LORD CHAMPIONMy Lords, as circulars to local authorities are often just shelved, will the Department of the Environment make sure that they follow up the circular to see what action is being taken by local authorities?
§ LORD MOWBRAY AND STOURTONMy Lords, our local inspectors are in 1504 touch with their colleagues in local authorities.