§ 73. Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in negotiations about axle weights and gross vehicle weights with the European Community; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PeytonThe Communities have not yet reached agreement on axle or vehicle weights.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) to what extent the adoption of the European Economic Community proposal of a general Community maximum of 11.5 ton axle weights on lorries will involve expenditure by Great Britain of money on strengthening the British road system; and whether he will make a statement;
(2) whether he will make a statement on the negotiations held in Brussels on Tuesday, 16th May, regarding the question of the establishment of a maximum load per axle for Community lorries; and to what extent the British trade unions were consulted before these discussions.
§ Mr. PeytonIf an 11.5 ton axle weight limit were to be adopted by the Community, the likely cost of strengthening roads and bridges could be as high as £300 million. I have made clear, both to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers and to the Commission, the Government's dislike of such a proposal.