§ Mr. Neil Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has completed his consultations with the Greater London council on its lorry ban proposals; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RidleyI have considered carefully all aspects of the Greater London council's proposals and the points made by it is response to consultation.
Having done so, I am satisfied that in deciding to proceed with its lorry ban proposals without a public inquiry the GLC was not satisfactorily discharging its duty under section 122 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and that my direction is necessary to secure compliance with that duty.
Accordingly, I have issued a direction under that Act to the GLC, a copy of which is being placed in the Library of the House.
The effect of that direction is to require the GLC to seek my consent to introduction of its proposals for a night-time and weekend lorry ban.
If my consent is sought, it would be my intention to establish a public inquiry so that the GLC's scheme, the many issues it raises and the many objections it has attracted can be publicly and impartially weighed. I would then decide whether or not to give my consent in the light of that inquiry's findings.