§ Sir Peter Millsasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, following the introduction of heavier lorries, his Department will monitor road wear with a view to allocating additional funds to county councils to compensate for any additional wear that is experienced.
§ Mrs. ChalkerOur calculations indicate that individual 38 tonne 5 axle articulated lorries will be no42W more damaging to the roads than existing 32.5 tonne 4 axle articulated lorries. Overall, since fewer lorry journeys will be needed to move any given amount of freight, using 38 tonne lorries should result in some 20 per cent. less road damage than if 32 tonne lorries were used. My Department will continue to monitor road condition through the national road maintenance condition survey. Councils have already been told that bridge repair due to existing road damage will be eligible for transport supplementary grant.