HC Deb 27 October 1998 vol 318 cc106-8W
Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate his Department has made of the increase in continental European HGVs on United Kingdom roads since the abolition of cabotage rules on 1 July. [56649]

Ms Glenda Jackson

[holding answer 26 October 1998]: Estimates of the number of European HGVs on United Kingdom roads are given in Table 2 of 'Road Goods Vehicles Travelling to Mainland Europe', published by the Department, and available in the Library. Figures are not yet available for the period since 1 July. We expect little, if any, change since cabotage accounts for only 0.04 per cent. of total UK road freight activity.

Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate his Department has made for the costs for a 40-tonne truck and trailer operating in each EU country represented by(a) VED rates, (b) fuel duty and (c) other operating charges. [56645]

Ms Glenda Jackson

[holding answer 26 October 1998]: My Department does not have the necessary information on these factors in all Member States to make such a comparison.

Any meaningful comparison of the costs of operating a 40 tonne, 5-axle, articulated lorry in all Member States would need to include a wide range of factors. As well as Vehicle Excise Duty, fuel duty and their equivalents, it would need to include tolls, road user charges and normal business and employment taxes and charges. Other important variables include fuel efficiency (some hauliers are nearly twice as fuel-efficient as others), distances travelled, loading factors, and the overheads of the haulier.

Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate his Department has made of the number of jobs lost in the United Kingdom road freight haulage business since May 1997. [56647]

Ms Glenda Jackson

[holding answer 26 October 1998]: I regret that information for the period in question is not yet available. The latest figures, which are collected in the annual Employment Survey, relate to 1996. Statistics for 1997 will be available later this year.

Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his Department's estimate of the increase in the cost to United Kingdom HGV operators of each class of vehicle in respect of(a) fuel duty, (b) vehicle licence duty and (c) other environmental charges since the Budget. [56651]

Ms Glenda Jackson

[holding answer 26 October 1998]: Since the Budget, UK HGV operators have incurred increases in fuel duty of 6 per cent. above the rate of inflation, for all classes of vehicle. The last Budget did not change VED rates for HGVs, other than to introduce a £500 rebate for vehicles meeting certain emission standards, to be available from January 1999. No other relevant environmental charges were introduced in the Budget.

Mr. Loughton

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what estimate his Department has made of the proportion of United Kingdom road freight travelling exclusively on United Kingdom roads which is being commissioned by United Kingdom companies using foreign HGV operators. [56650]

Ms Glenda Jackson

[holding answer 26 October 1998]: The information is not available.