§ Lord Mason of Barnsleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What proposals have been submitted to them by the Association of Chief Police Officers for reducing the scale of police manpower in escorting abnormal loads on motorways, and whether they and the association have agreed to develop proposals to reduce police manpower on these operations; and 64WA What representations have been received from local authority associations and the public to limit the movement of abnormal loads on the motorways to night time only; and what responses have been made to these representations.
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch)The Association of Chief Police Officers has proposed that the scale of police manpower used in escorting abnormal loads on motorways could be reduced if escorting on these roads and linked dual carriageways, subject to loads not exceeding certain weight and/or dimensional criteria, were carried out by suitably qualified private escorts. The Government and the association are examining this proposal in consultation with the road haulage industry authority associations. A Police Community Liaison Committee has suggested that the movement of abnormal loads on motorways should be limited to night time only, and a few similar letters have been received from members of the public. The response given was that chief officers of police have been encouraged by their association to provide escorts at night, but this will not always be practicable due to logistical and safety factors.