§ Mr. WardTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to his answer of 24 January,Official Report, column 465, which are the main ferry ports to be equipped with automatic weighbridges; when each will come into use; and whether their use will be compulsory for all commercial vehicles entering the United Kingdom through these ports.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyDuring the next three months we intend to install automatic weighing equipment on a trial basis in the ports of Dover, Newhaven, Ramsgate, Poole and Felixstowe. Subject to the outcome of the trial, we will consider further installations in other ports. Under existing legislation there is no provision to make the use of the equipment compulsory but it will be capable of weighing all commercial vehicles using the ports.