asked Her Majesty's Government:

What remit has been set for the Department for Transport study on the effects of using heavier and longer lorries; and whether this study was let following a process of competitive tendering. [HL4283]

The remit of the project is to assess the effects if longer and heavier goods vehicle combinations were to be permitted. It will look at whether potential demand would be sufficient to deliver worthwhile benefits that outweighed or justified mitigation of disbenefits. The study will, among other things, take full account of safety concerns and issues surrounding rail freight. Copies of the full work specification have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

The study was let following a process of competitive tendering: 15 organisations were invited to bid, four offers were received and the competition was won by TRL and Heriot-Watt University.