No clear road for 44-tonners
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from our Parliamentary correspondent
• The road is not yet clear for 44-ton goods vehicles. MPs critical of the suggestion that the larger lorries should be allowed in this country were assured in the Commons this week that a great many matters would have to be considered first.
Mr. Michael Hese!tine, Tory spokesman on transport. wanted a "green paper"—a docu
ment issued as the basis for discussion—on a 44-ton vehicle and Mr, Bob Brown, Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Transport, told him this would be considered.
Mr. William Price (Labour, Rugby) said there would be widespread dismay if some of the proposals put forward were accepted. And he added, to supporting cries from other Labour MPs, that there were more important factors in the world than the profits.
Mr. Philip Goodhart. (Tory, Beckenham) suggested that if the Minister did consider allowing bigger vehicles on the roads he should seek the views of other road users, such as pedestrians and other drivers who might object to roads being made even less safe.
Mr. Brown replied that all the questions— arid there were very many—would be considered by the Government before achieving a decision.
Mr. Tam Dalyell (Labour. West Lothian) wondered what demand there was via industry for 44-ton vehicles. If the proposal was accepted he wanted the Minister to designate roads which could carry "these 'enormous loads".
Mr. Brown said that existing roads would be capable of accepting the loads suggested.