Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on applying a 32 tonne weight limit to volumetric vehicles.

We are aware that the custom and practice for some 4 axle rigid volumetric concrete mixers in recent years has been to operate in excess of the 32 tonne weight limit specified in regulations. A consultation earlier this year about the scope of exemptions from annual roadworthiness testing for some types of Heavy Goods Vehicles sought views about whether a higher weight limit could be set for such vehicles to avoid dislocation in the market. We have the responses to the consultation now and are considering this issue.