§ 31. Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on implementing the package of bypasses and other environmental protective measures announced in the debate on heavy lorries on 25 November 1982.
§ Mrs. ChalkerOn 12 May this year we announced the addition to the active trunk road programme of 15 bypass schemes worth £116 million, bringing the total number of bypasses then in planning or construction to 160. Last month our White paper "Policy for Roads in England 1983" gave full details of the good progress being made with the construction of bypasses and announced new studies into the need for further roads. Good progress is also being made on implementing other environmental protective measures. Lower noise limits for heavy lorries came into force on 1 October and developments now in hand should result in the heaviest lorries being no noisier than today's cars by the 1990s. We are continuing to make lorries safer by means of new standards for side- and rearguards and spray suppressors. The problem of overloading is being tackled and enforcement stepped up. — [Vol. 42, c.439–440.]