§ Mr. Whiteheadasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if, in the light of his policy that 38-tonne lorries should pay their full track costs from the date of their introduction in May, he will implement recommendation 3 of the Armitage report to ensure that other groups of heavy lorries, and in particular four-axled 32.5-tonne lorries, also pay their full track costs;
(2) what proposals he has to ensure that the overtaxing of smaller and lighter lorries should cease in accordance with recommendation 6 of the Armitage report.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe new duty structure for lorries introduced last October facilitates the better matching of taxation levels to the road costs of different groups of 39W lorries. But decisions on motor taxation are for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to take as part of his Budget strategy.
§ Mr. Whiteheadasked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in the calculation of the total of road track costs for 1983–84, he will include the public costs of road accidents and a national tax for damage to underground services in accordance with recommendations 4 and 5 of the Armitage report.
§ Mrs. ChalkerNo. These recommendations, and other proposals which have been made by interested bodies for changing the present track cost methodology are being considered, but no decisions have yet been taken.