§ Lord Hardy of Wathasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many vehicles have broken down on the M.20 in the last three years as a result, or partly as a result, of overloading; and whether the incidence of overloading is markedly higher on this road than is usual.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Baroness Hayman)I have asked the Chief Executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate Executive Agency, Mr. Ron Oliver, to write to my noble friend.
Letter to Lord Hardy of Wath from the Chief Executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate, Mr. R. Oliver, dated 22 December 1997.
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about vehicle breakdowns on the M.20 as a result of overloading. The Vehicle Inspectorate does not maintain statistics relating to vehicle breakdowns but does maintain overloading statistics. These are recorded by geographical area rather than individual roads. Details of vehicles prohibited over the last three years for carrying overweight loads in the South Eastern Area, which would include the M.20 are shown below:
1995–96 1996–97 1997–982 Vehicles1 weighed Vehicles prohibited Vehicles1 weighed Vehicles prohibited Vehicles1 weighed Vehicles prohibited 17,004 773 13,333 974 6,437 459 1Heavy goods vehicles and light goods vehicles only. 2 Figures for period 1 April to 30 September 1997 only.