§ 68. Mr. Normantonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has made an assessment of the effect upon transport costs of his decision announced on 16th December, 1970, to fix an upper limit of 32 tons gross vehicle weight for British heavy-vehicle operators.
§ Mr. PeytonThere should be no effect on transport costs as the decision was in fact to continue an existing weight limit.
§ 85. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria are used by his Department to decide when loans of exceptional weight, exceeding 38 tons, are to be carried by motor vehicles on the roads of Great Britain.
§ Mr. PeytonThe movement by road of loads exceeding 150 tons gross requires the authority of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. The possibility of subdividing the load, the use of other forms of transport and the avail-112W ability of a suitable route are all considered.
Vehicles, the gross weight of which is between 32 and 150 tons, may move on public roads subject to their compliance with the requirements of the Motor Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) General Order, 1969.