§ Ms. RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from(a) trading standards officers and (b) the Association of Chief Police Officers regarding the changing of prosecution criteria for overloading offences.
§ Mr. Chope[holding answer 22 July 1991]: We have consulted widely among enforcement bodies about the revised guidelines which the Department's traffic examiners will apply in dealing with overloaded lorries. Trading standards officers and the police have indicated that they wish to retain full discretion in deciding when to prosecute for overloading, according to the circumstances detected and this is recognised in the Department's guidelines.