Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he plans to take to protect jobs supported by volumetric mobile plant (VCM) manufacturers and operators in (a) Slough and (b) across the UK in the context of sales reductions as a result of the ban on VCMs over 32T.

The Department for Transport put in place a temporary regime to permit a limited number of volumetric concrete mixers (VCMs) to operate at higher than the standard 32-tonne weight limit applicable to vehicles of their design. This temporary arrangement was put in place over a maximum of 10 years to allow the industry to adjust. Progressively as vehicles reach the end of their operating lives, operators are liable to need to purchase newer vehicles, which in turn should stimulate demand for VCM manufacturers.