§ Mr. Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress in considering the recommendations of the Armitage report; and when vehicle manufacturers may expect a decision on lorry dimensions.
§ Mr. FowlerThe Government are still considering these recommendations. We are aware of the concern of vehicle manufacturers, and we shall reach conclusions as soon as we can.
§ Mr. Lambornasked the Secretary of State for Transport what action he proposes to take, following the Armitage report, to switch the burden of lorry taxation away from the overpayment by lighter lorries to heavier lorries.
§ Mr. FowlerWe are already acting here.
The Armitage report's view that all classes of goods vehicle should at least cover their road costs in lorry taxation was already Government policy. The Transport Bill provides for the restructuring of vehicle excise duty on goods vehicles. This will lead to the redistribution of lorry taxation from the lighter, less damaging vehicles to the heavier, more damaging groups. Taxation levels themselves are, however, a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ Mr. Lambornasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will refer to the Standing Advisory Committee on Trunk Road Assessment the recommendations of the Armitage committee on the need to take greater account of lorry traffic in the assessment of road schemes.
§ Mr. FowlerThe methods for assessing trunk road schemes developed in consultation with SACTRA already take full account of the environmental impact of traffic including lorries. I will, however, consult it on the development of a standard method of assessing the impact of lorry traffic alone as proposed in the Armitage report.