Heavy session for Mr Peyton
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from our political correspondent
IIP John Peyton, Minister for Transport Industries, has been given advance warning .hat he faces a heavy Commons session. KAN have tabled dozens of questions demanding statements of Government policy.
Priority is for an early declaration on :alks with the EEC on the limits on the size of heavy vehicles to be permitted into the UK. Running a close second are numerous demands for action to prohibit heavy lorries from minor roads and villages.
The inquisition started this week with Mr R. C. Mitchell (Lab, Southampton, Itchen) calling for a statement on the additional hgv which will use trunk roads leading to Southampton docks when BR closes its freight service to the docks.
Mr Patrick Wall (Tory, Haltemprice) is also tackling the Minister on the action he is taking td provide routes for heavy lorries from the new Humber Bridge northwards to York and the Tyne and Tees.
Next week the pressure will mount with demands for more information about the Government's proposals for the future size and shape of the railway network.
MPs are still concerned about the current system for licensing lorry drivers and the problems facing drivers who lose their jobs and automatically lose their hgv licence as a result.
Mr W. Hamilton (Lab, West Fife) has now joined the growing group of MPs receiving appeals from drivers finding difficulty in securing jobs because their licences have lapsed and calling for a simplification of the system.
He is asking Mr Peyton to remove the requirements in such cases for drivers to take a new test, which often means unemployed drivers having to hire suitable vehicles to take the test before they can be re-employed.
Mr David Stoddart (Lab, Swindon) will ask for a detailed breakdown of figures showing the total annual capital expenditure. including vehicles, on road and rail transport over the last 10 years.
And Mr Bruce Gardyne (Tory, South Angus) is to call for an early statement on the Government's proposals in the light of the National Ports Council's study of the role of non registered ports.