§ Mr. Jenningsasked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that carriers working for the Sheffield abattoir are replacing their vans with completely enclosed containers to ensure cleaner meat but this step involves an increase in the Road Fund tax from £35 to £50 as well as a restriction to 20 miles per hour because the unladen weight of the van is slightly increased; and if he will consider excluding the container in calculating the weight of the van in such cases.
§ Mr. BarnesThe weight of the meat containers in question, which I am informed amounts to about one ton, must be included in the unladen weight of the vehicles for taxation purposes (Section 26 of the Vehicles (Excise) Act, 1949) and for speed limit purposes (Section 26 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930). I am not prepared to seek amendment of these provisions.