§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the damage caused to buildings abutting on highways owing to the ex- 934W cessive speed at which heavy vehicles with solid tyres travel; and whether he will increase the efforts now taken and, if necessary, introduce further legislation to prevent such cause of damage, or make provision for payment of compensation to the owners of the buildings damaged?
Mr. STANLEYThe maximum speed permitted to heavy motor cars fitted with soft or elastic tyres is 16 miles per hour and heavy motor cars, light locomotives, and heavy locomotives fitted with solid tyres are limited to a speed of five miles per hour. All new goods-carrying vehicles are required to be fitted with pneumatic tyres and the system of taxation is framed to encourage the substitution of pneumatic for solid tyres. Further, local authorities have powers to make, subject to my confirmation, orders prohibiting or restricting on specified roads the use of vehicles of any particular class on the ground that the roads to be used are unsuitable. I do not, therefore, think that further legislation is required.