Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has had discussions with police forces in England on the impact of abnormal load movement restrictions on the road haulage industry.

My Department is aware of concerns including those raised by an important industry body, the Heavy Transport Association (HTA), regarding changes to movement restrictions placed on abnormal load vehicles. Local police forces have the power to put in place restrictions on the movement of abnormal loads. My Department has passed on the concerns of the HTA to the National Police Chiefs Council, which has confirmed that this is an operational matter for local police forces. Therefore, my officials have advised the HTA that they should liaise directly with the relevant police forces on the matter.