Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to consult utilities and highways representatives on the impact the loss of operators of 38.4 tonne and 44 tonne volumetric concrete mixer vehicles from 2028 wil have on emergency repairs.

There are no plans for further discussions with utilities and highways representatives about the maximum weights of volumetric concrete mixers. The Department recognises the use of the vehicles in repair operations and also higher effects on structures associated with vehicles operating on roads in excess of the standard weight limits.

Dispensations to allow extra weights for vehicles operating in 2018 were designed to allow the market to adjust to the vehicles complying, during the course of this decade, with the standard weights applicable to heavy goods vehicles. After that volumetric concrete mixer vehicles are allowed to continue to be operated at standard weights, as before the dispensations made in 2018.