§ Mr. IrvineTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the expected effects of the recent European Community directive permitting an increase in the width of refrigerated vehicles to 2.6 m.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThick-walled refrigerated vehicles operating between EC member states may be 2.6 m wide as from 1 January 1989. We are therefore circulating proposals to increase the permitted width of refrigerated vehicles in Britain. This will assist British operators who already use refrigerated vehicles complying with the maximum limit of 2.58 m currently allowed by the construction and use regulations. It will further help operators by allowing future vehicles to be built at 2.6 m wide.