Lorries (Hansard, 18 February 1986)

§ Mr. Moate
asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement about the progress of research and development of quieter lorries.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
The quiet heavy vehicle (QHV90) programme was set up to research and develop quieter lorries for the 1990s. The programme is on target and will be substantially complete within the next two years.

§ Mr. Moate
asked the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been achieved with regard to improvement for safety standards for heavy lorries; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
New and improved safety standards have been introduced for lorries and trailers. More are being developed. These include from 1982 a higher standard of braking, from 1983 sideguards and rear under-run guards, from 1985 spray suppression equipment and from 1988 additional mirrors.

§ Mr. Moate
asked the Secretary of State for Transport if any studies have been undertaken or are planned by his Department into the effects on buildings and services of heavy lorry vibration.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
A preliminary study into the effects of traffic vibration on buildings is under way.
Further work will depend on the results of this preliminary study.
An earlier study was carried out into the settlement of buried services subject to traffic vibration.
153W

§ Mr. Moate
asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will publish an analysis of the numbers of lorries, divided into weight categories, over a represenative period in order to determine the effects of increases in maximum permitted lorry weights.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
An analysis of the stock of goods vehicles by gross vehicle weight is given in table 1, annex A, of the Department of Transport statistics bulletin 86(5) "Monitoring 38 tonne goods vehicles". A copy is in the Library.

§ Mr. Moate
asked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the policy of the Government with regard to the reduction of lorry noise; and if he plans to achieve further reductions in statutory maximum permitted noise levels.

§ Mr. Peter Bottomley
New noise limits for lorries were agreed in the European Community in 1984 and

Bus subsidies in Great Britain

£ million

1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 ^*1985–86

Fuel duty rebate 67 80 89 103 101 127 131

New bus grant 66 74 58 30 16 1 ^†

Revenue grants 242 337 411 526 553 ^‡525 467

Capital grants 5 9 12 4 20 10 467

Concessionary fares 138 160 190 223 245 258 271

Total 518 660 760 886 935 921 869

^* Estimated.
^† Less than £0.5 million.
^‡ Provisional.

Bus subsidies in Great Britain
£ million
	1979–80	1980–81	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85	^*1985–86
Fuel duty rebate	67	80	89	103	101	127	131
New bus grant	66	74	58	30	16	1	^†
Revenue grants	242	337	411	526	553	^‡525	467
Capital grants	5	9	12	4	20	10	467
Concessionary fares	138	160	190	223	245	258	271
Total	518	660	760	886	935	921	869