Heavy Goods Vehicles (Hansard, 24 February 1994)

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what traffic forecasts his Department has undertaken in relation to 44-tonne lorries involved in journeys in the United Kingdom for 1999–2000.

§ Mr. Key
There is no commitment to allow lorries to operate at 44-tonnes in the United Kingdom except (1) under the proposed new regulations which will apply only to certain six-axle vehicles carrying containers and swap-bodies to or from rail terminals; and, (2) under existing European Community limits for international movements, from which the United Kingdom has a derogation until 1 January 1999, which allow 44-tonnes only for articulated vehicles carrying containers in combined transport. We are unable to forecast how many 44-tonne combined transport vehicles will be operating in 1999.

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to introduce 44-tonne lorries for domestic journeys(a) to and from rail terminals and (b) on other road journeys; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Key
Regulations are about to be made which will allow certain six-axle articulated vehicles and drawbar-trailer combinations to operate at up to 44 tonnes when carrying containers or swap-bodies to or from rail terminals in combined road/rail operations. This measure is intended to encourage intermodal road/rail freight movements. The lorries concerned will be no larger and cause no more road wear than present 38 tonne five-axle vehicles. We are not proposing to allow 44-tonne vehicles for other types of road journey.

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the formula and what methodological assumptions are used by his Department in calculating the forecast of the number of 44-tonne lorries on United Kingdom roads.

§ Mr. Key
We are not able to make any forecast of the number of lorries which may operate at 44 tonnes under the proposed new regulations which will allow certain six-axle vehicles to operate at this weight only when carrying containers and swap-bodies to and from rail terminals in combined road/rail movements.
332W

§ Ms Walley
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has for rest facilities for heavy goods vehicle drivers in transit in the United Kingdom en international journeys.

§ Mr. Key
All motorway service areas—MSAs—in England provide free short-term parking for all types of vehicles including lorries. In order to secure more MSAs more quickly, we announced in 1992 that in future MSAs will be provided by private developers rather than my Department. Adequate free lorry parking will nevertheless continue to be required at any MSA signposted from the motorway. On all-purpose roads, provision of services has always been a matter for the private sector, though the Department does encourage provision of comprehensive sites with facilities for all types of vehicle.
Roadside services in Scotland and Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales respectively.