§ Mr. SnapeTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many lorry action areas have been established in line with recommendation 50 of the Armitage report; and at what cost.
§ Mr. ChopeNone. Since the Armitage report was published there have been substantial improvements. Today's lorries are quieter, and safer and emit less smoke. There are also fewer of them in urban areas, due to the continuing improvement of the road network, particularly by provision of bypasses. A major focus of attention has been the Department's lorry management scheme which produced guidance last year illustrating the range of measures available to local authorities in promoting effective lorry management and reducing the adverse effects of lorries on local communities.