Written question asked by Gwyneth Dunwoody (Labour) on Tuesday, 11 April 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 18 April 2000. It was answered by Keith Hill (Labour) on Tuesday, 18 April 2000 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, when the Commission on Integrated Transport will make its final report on the case for allowing 44 tonne vehicles onto UK roads; and what assessment his Department has made of the impact of permitting 44 tonne lorries on the carriage of goods by rail.

Answer: Mrs. Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when the Commission on Integrated Transport will make its final report on the case for allowing 44 tonne vehicles on to UK roads; and what assessment his Department has made of the impact of permitting 44 tonne lorries on the carriage of goods by rail. [119157] Mr. Hill: I understand that the Commission for Integrated Transport (CfIT) hope to produce their final report on 44 tonne lorries and the development of rail freight in late autumn this year. I also understand that the report will concentrate on options for rail freight and will not revisit the case for 44 tonne lorries. My Department relied on CfIT's very thorough analysis of the effects on rail freight of the introduction of 44 tonne lorries, and has not carried out separate studies.

Secondary information