Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Stephen Ladyman (Labour). It was answered on Tuesday, 22 April 2008 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Roads (Permitted Vehicles)

Question: May I associate myself with my right hon. Friend's comments about Gwyneth Dunwoody? She was a tough cookie, but she was our tough cookie. She will be very much missed. The hon. Member for North-East Cambridgeshire (Mr. Moss) does not seem to realise that it is Conservative party policy to allow longer heavier lorries on the roads of Great Britain. Will my right hon. Friend think very carefully before she allows that, because they will almost certainly be taken through our rural villages causing untold damage?

Answer: My hon. Friend takes a huge interest in this subject, and I know that he has a track record of considering the case for longer heavier vehicles. He makes a pertinent point about the Conservatives' policy, and I have a huge amount of sympathy with his points. We should be concerned about congestion and road safety and, on environmental grounds, we should think about the most effective way of moving freight around this country. That is why I have said that I would need a huge amount of persuasion to allow so-called super-lorries on British roads.

Secondary information