Lorries: Maximum Weight Limits (Hansard, 29 March 1994)

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)
My Lords, we have no plans to increase the current maximum weight limits in the United Kingdom. These are 38 tonnes for the general run of lorries and 44 tonnes for six-axled lorries carrying containers or swapbodies in combined road/rail transport. We have strongly questioned a recent proposal of the EC Commission to allow 44 tonnes for all six-axled lorries throughout the EC.

§ Lord Stoddart of Swindon
My Lords, I am very encouraged by that reply. However, is it not a fact that by the end of 1998 the weight limit will rise to 42 tonnes? Is a panel of the European Community now examining the possibility of the introduction of a 48 tonne weight limit for heavy goods vehicles? May I have the noble Lord's assurance that if any such proposals should arise he will resist them and, if they persist, use the veto against them?

§ Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish
My Lords, I can confirm to the noble Lord that in 1999 the limit will rise to 40 tonnes on five-axle lorries, and an 11½ tonnes axle weight limit. Currently we have a derogation back to 38 tonnes and 10½ tonnes axle weight. I can assure the noble Lord that we are sceptical of the case for 44 tonnes in general terms, although we approve of the case for 44 tonnes in joint road-rail transport, provided it is on six axles.

§ Lord Geddes
My Lords, I can see no reason why my noble friend should be, but is he aware that Sub-Committee B of the European Communities Select Committee of this House is more than likely to start an inquiry on exactly this subject and the dimensions of heavy lorries in the near future? That is with a view to producing a report before the Summer Recess.

§ Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for what I might call long notice of probably a request for my presence to discuss those difficult matters. Perhaps I should get out my calculator and get my weight limit and weight loading correct before I appear before Sub-Committee B.

§ Lord Taylor of Gryfe
My Lords, first I congratulate the Minister on the stand that the Government have taken in that regard. Does he appreciate that it has important implications for the sale of Railfreight, which will certainly be privatised? Any increased loading facilities on road transport might have serious effects on the price that the Government could command for Railfreight.

§ Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish
My Lords, that is exactly why the Government are determined to stand by their decision that the 44 tonnes and six axles should only be permitted in those cases where the lorry leg of the journey is part of a joint road-rail transportation. We are opposed to any decision from the Community to increase the limit to 44 tonnes for all lorries. As the noble Lord said, that would reduce the competitive advantage that the current limit gives to rail.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, in addition to the reasons the Minister has given, which the House supports, will the Government also give consideration to the environmental effects that heavier loads could create? As well as being a danger to ordinary people, they are a danger to our environment.

§ Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish
My Lords, it is a complicated subject. While 44 tonnes on its own seems a considerable increase, if the weight is spread over another axle the pressure on the road surface and the damage to the road are not increased. However, the noble Lord is quite right about lorries in general. We are keen to see a shift to rail of at least some of the current goods traffic that goes by road and that is why we have made that proposal.

Lord Campbell of Croy
My Lords, my noble friend referred to axle loads, which are important in regard to weight. However, for my benefit as another member of the sub-committee and for other members, will my noble friend confirm that the Government are concerned about the associated problem of unwieldy lengths of large lorries?

§ Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish
My Lords, the discussions about 38, 40 or 44 tonnes do not involve increases in the length dimensions of lorries but rather the amount of load the lorries can carry.

Lord Bruce of Donington
My Lords, the noble Lord has spoken of the Government taking a stand on 982 the matter. Will he indicate to the House what he or the Government will do if they find a qualified majority against the decision in the European Community?

§ Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish
My Lords, the noble Lord has not let me down; I checked on the question in anticipation that I would receive it from him. The issue needs a qualified majority if the Commission's proposal to move to 44 tonnes for all loads were to find favour. However, I am happy to say that at the moment a number of member states agree with us on the need to keep the lorry limits to what we have and to use the 44-tonne limit as a bait to move transport from road to rail.

§ Lord Mowbray and Stourton
My Lords, I believe I heard my noble friend say that the axle weights are now allowed to increase to 11½ tonnes per axle. I seem to remember that the average bridge in Britain was built to take only 11 tonnes in axle weight. Have we strengthened the bridges? Am I wrong, or is my noble friend right? Are we doing something about it?

§ Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish
My Lords, we are both right. The increase from 10½ to 11½ tonnes will come in 1999. We have a derogation to allow for that and the reason is exactly because we need to increase the strength of those bridges which currently would not take 11½ tonnes axle weight.

§ Lord Clinton-Davis
My Lords, as a result of the new regulations there will be limited use of 44-tonne lorries. First, is the Minister confident that sufficient resources are to be applied to prevent maverick road hauliers from evading the rules? If so, perhaps he would be kind enough to outline what are the additional resources.
Secondly, does not the whole issue give increasing urgency to the requirement to transfer more and more freight from road to rail in a way that is far more decisive than anything the Government have announced or have intentions of doing so far?

§ Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish
My Lords, as the noble Lord knows, the shift from rail to road has continued over many years and during the terms of office of many governments. We believe that some of the proposals that have been made, including the decision on 44 tonnes, should help to alter that. In addition, I hope that a more competitive railway network will, after privatisation, be more robust in marketing the advantages of rail freight operations.
As regards policing the regulations on 44 tonnes, there will be a requirement that the vehicle should carry a document to show that the cargo has either originated from, or is destined for, a rail terminal.