Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Volumetric Concrete Mobile Plants — [Clive Efford in the Chair]

22 June 2023 · 6 other contributors · 7,219 words

Opened by Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland

Responding minister: Jesse Norman

TransportEnvironment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Alistair Carmichael raised concerns about volumetric concrete mobile plants — [clive efford in the chair] in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • The MP is concerned that proposed changes to regulations limiting the weight of volumetric concrete mobile plants could harm their operation in rural areas.
  • The MP requests the government to revisit its regulation and economic impact assessment for volumetric concrete mobile plants, suggesting a more balanced approach.
  • The Minister noted an initial assessment indicating that increasing weight limits could have significant implications.

Key requests to Government

The MP asks the government to revisit its regulation and economic impact assessment for volumetric concrete mobile plants (VCMs). He suggests that a more balanced approach should be adopted, considering the benefits of VCMs in rural areas and during emergency repairs. The regulations proposed would limit VCM capacity by 2028, which could lead to inefficiencies, increased costs, and environmental harm.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland

The MP is concerned about the proposed changes to regulations that limit the weight of volumetric concrete mobile plants (VCMs), which could harm their operation in rural areas. The current regulation, set by the Department for Transport in 2018, reduces the legal weight limit for VCMs from 44 tonnes on five axles and 38.4 tonnes on four axles to 32 tonnes, effective by 2028. This reduction would make VCMs less efficient, leading to increased costs, more road journeys, and higher carbon emissions. The industry has seen a decline in sales since the announcement of these regulations, with VCM sales dropping from 55 million in 2017 to 9 million by 2020.

Other contributors (6)
  • George Howarth

    Congratulated the right hon. Gentleman on securing the debate and endorsed his arguments regarding VCM operators' importance to local economies, urging the Minister to acknowledge the strength of these points when responding.

  • Gill Furniss Lab Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough

    Volumetric concrete mixers have been in operation for nearly 50 years, offering benefits such as on-site batching and reduced waste. However, by 2028, VCMs will face the same weight limits as drum mixers, potentially harming their business models due to the extra equipment they carry.

  • Hilary Benn Lab Leeds South

    He praised Mixamate's innovative product and expressed confusion over the decrease in orders despite the Department for Transport increasing weight limits for other vehicles. He questioned why VCMs were singled out when they offer flexibility, multiple drop-offs, and carbon reductions.

  • Peter Grant Lab Glenrothes

    Asked if the all-party parliamentary group had considered how many additional drivers would be needed for lighter vehicles if the proposal goes through, noting that there may not be a surplus of such workers in the construction industry currently. Mr Grant mentioned the passing of Winnie Ewing and highlighted that there are no current arguments against reducing weight limits for HGVs. He pointed out that reducing the maximum weight does not necessarily reduce the total amount of construction materials carried, potentially leading to more journeys or less building activity. With the Scottish construction industry generating £17 billion and employing 158,000 people in 2021, Mr Grant questioned the impact on carbon emissions and called for a more up-to-date economic and environmental impact assessment. He also raised concerns about the shortage of HGV drivers due to Brexit and the effect of rising interest rates on infrastructure development. Asked why a weight limit is not placed on individual bridges instead of imposing uniform weight limits for all vehicles.

  • Philippa Whitford

    Emphasised the critical nature of the two-hour issue, pointing out that communities far from concrete plants could face hardened concrete and increased waste in landfill due to longer transport times. She spoke on behalf of Ve-Tech Concrete Ltd in her constituency, highlighting the advantages of VCMs for rural areas and small load deliveries. She questioned the rationale behind the 2018 decision to restrict VCMs when other heavier vehicles are permitted. Asked for reassurance that the call for evidence will be wide-ranging, including issues of environmental pollution, congestion reduction, and carbon emissions reduction beyond just weight limits on roads.

  • Tan Dhesi Lab Slough

    He thanked the right hon. Gentleman for securing today's debate and highlighted the importance of Mixamate in his constituency, stressing that any policy changes must be accompanied by a full impact assessment to protect livelihoods, economic growth, and the environment.

Government Response

Jesse Norman

The Minister apologised for the absence of the roads Minister, highlighted legal changes in 2017 and 2018 related to volumetric concrete mixers, and noted no increase was made to axle weights. He discussed the Department's recognition of higher than permitted weights being used illegally by some VCMs and announced a limited temporary period for operation at higher maximum permitted weights. The Minister also mentioned an initial assessment indicating that increasing weight limits could significantly increase road wear. He stated that the current 32-tonne maximum weight limit is important for maintaining roads and preventing substantial structural damage. The Department intends to review the temporary arrangements during the autumn through a call for evidence.

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