hbate not required on lorry weights
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I-IE TRANSPORT SECRETARY is not required to put his proposals increase vehicle weights before the House of Commons in deate. The proposals (CM December 5} are what is known in parsmentary language as negative resolutions and are, in effect, ierely amendments to C and U regulations.
All Mr Howell is required to do place the resolution before the ouse and state when it be)mes effective — and that )uld be immediately.
Anyone opposing the laying of le regulation has 40 days in hich to pray against it. This ould mean a debate and a vote it, in the meantime, the regula)ns would come into effect.
Should the Minister adopt this mrse of action the matter ould undoubtedly be prayed 3ainst and if the vote then went 3ainst the Minister it would 'use, in the words of a departent official, a legal upheaval. In ew of the voluble opposition to e proposals it is unlikely that e Minister will adopt this )urse of action but it now also :ems likely that instead of the after being the subject of a free vote in the House, there will be a three line whip applied.
One of the Minister's proposals which did not attract any comment in the debate was the increase in the dual carriage speed limit from 40 to 50 mph. Since this is effectively a change in the law, this has to go to a vote but, unlike a new Act where the subject has three readings, this will be subjected to only one vote.
It is anticipated that the weight regulation will not come into effect until early spring next year.