§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the present position of the studies commissioned by the Government, in particular that by Dr. Howard Ward, into vibration damage caused by heavy lorries; when he expects the conclusions to be published; and if he will consider asking for an interim report prior to his taking any decision on new lorry weight limits.
§ Mr. William RodgersPreliminary work on traffic vibration and its effects has been carried out by the Building Research Establishment and the Transport and Road Research Laboratory. The TRRL has commissioned a study by Dr. Howard Ward of Plymouth Polytechnic on the ground vibrations produced by traffic generally and their effects on ancient structures. It is still at an early stage, and interim conclusions are unlikely to be available before 1978. No decisions can be taken on new lorry weight limits until the EEC Commission has produced its detailed proposals.
§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he has taken consequent upon the conclusions reached by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory, as published in Transport and Road Research Laboratory Report 582, with regard to the suspension systems of commercial vehicles; and, in particular, if he has been able to specify standards of suspension design, in order to reduce ground-borne vibration.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe report described preliminary investigations of suspension designs. Research is continuing, but this is essentially a long-term project and it is too soon to consider whether legislation would be appropriate or what standards might be specified.