§ Mr. Hillasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many representations he has received on the subject of the proposed Greater London council ban on inner city lorries at nights and during weekends.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI have received copies of over 2,000 of the much larger total of letters sent to the GLC expressing grave concern. In many cases the writers press my right hon. Friend to use his powers, if the GLC should decide to go ahead with its ban, to ensure that a properly constituted public inquiry is first held. I would expect full details and analysis of the representations to form an integral part of any report made by GLC officials to the transport committee as an aid to its deliberations.
Those who have written have included all types and sizes of businesses and shops, and range from major construction firms to a pop group. It is clear that the present GLC proposals and methods of administration envisaged have created widespread alarm among those who provide London's basic services.
§ Mr. Hillasked the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to whether the Greater London council is to hold a public inquiry into its proposed ban on heavy lorries; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI understand that the GLC transport committee will be meeting on Wednesday 12 December to consider the massive response to consultation and the many hundreds of calls for a public inquiry. I cannot anticipate what decision it will then reach.
However, we have made clear our view that for a major London-wide proposal of this magnitude a properly constituted public inquiry would provide a well established method of assessment.