§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on progress on meetings with local authority associations and others on the provision of truck stops near motorways.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyOn 19 February the Department had discussions with the three main local authority associations concerned with the provision of services on all purpose trunk roads, including those for lorry drivers. It is proposed shortly to have a further meeting with both them and representatives of the oil and catering industries so as to take further the initiative to secure comprehensive provision of facilities where needed and where consistent with road safety and other considerations.
The policy on provision of services for motorway users was set out in answer to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Mid-Worcestershire (Mr. Forth) on 1 July last year, column 88. Where proposals are put forward for truck stops off motorways but designed to serve the needs of motorway users, the Department asks local planning authorities to take into account road safety and traffic implications as well as the services already available or to be provided on the motorway itself.