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The Government and the road haulage industry have come under fire from a Conservative MP for the way they have handled the case for heavier lorries.
Peter Fry (Wellingborough), one of the strongest supporters in the Commons of heavier lorries, said he thought the chance to get the increase through before the election had been missed.
"I think the way it was presented to the House left something to be desired," he said.
"It would have been better if the Government had announced a programme of by-passes and environmental measures and put in heavier lorries almost as an afterthought," he said.
One of the problems was that people had a different attitude to former Transport Secretary Norman Fowler than to the current Transport Secretary David Howell. "I think Mr Fowler would have had a reasonable chance of getting it through." He pointed out that Mr Howell had not had time to build up personal support among MPs interested in transport matters.
And he also criticised the industry's contribution to the argument. The various parts of it
had not got together until very late in the day because they had not thought they were going to have to fight very hard. By that time many MPs were committed against heavier lorries after being lobbied in their constituenc,es.
"It has not been handled very welt by the Government or by indestry."
Meanwhile Junior Scottish Office Minister Allan Stewart told' MPs that heavier lorries woUld bring especial economic benefit to Scotland. Apparently, Mr Stewart is the first Minister outside the Department of Transport to push the case for heavier lorries for many months.
Mr Fry's comments were described as "preposterous" by a Road Haulage Association spokesman who said: "We do not accept that we have not put our case forward effectively."
He added: "We have constantly supported the Armitage proposals, particularly as a package, and consider that we have stuck to our guns. All we want now is a decision from the Government, so that our people can go ahead and buy new vehicles."