§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the relative damage caused to roads by(a) 38 tonne lorries, (b) 40 tonne lorries and (c) 44 tonne lorries with standard axle arrangements. [64983]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonAs indicated in the recent White Paper on the future of transport, "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone", 38 tonne, 5 axle lorries and 44 tonne, 6 axle lorries, both with drive axle weights of up to 10.5 tonnes, cause about the same amount of road wear. 40 tonne, 5 axle lorries, which have an 11.5 tonne drive axle weight, cause about a third more wear than the aforementioned.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many 44 tonne lorries are licensed to operate on United Kingdom roads. [64984]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonThe number of vehicles licensed to operate at 44 tonnes on combined transport operations at 30 September 1998 was 2,560. This figure does not include a number of vehicles licensed under Section 44 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 to carry abnormal and indivisible loads, and which may operate at weights at or above 44 tonnes.