§ 7. Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Minister of Transport if he will now state when he proposes to introduce a 10-hour maximum working day for lorry drivers.
§ Mr. MarplesI cannot add to what I said in reply to the hon. Member's Question on 29th March.
§ Mr. AllaunIf British Road Services can successfully operate a 10-hour maximum, why cannot private firms follow their example? Secondly, since, as distinct from most industrial negotiations, public safety is directly concerned, is not immediate Government action required?
§ Mr. MarplesThe reduction of hours asked for in this Question is desirable on two grounds, maybe. First, safety, and, second, raising the standard of living. The question of raising the standard of living is one for negotiations between the unions and the industry in the usual way. The question of safely, of course, is for the Government, and in 1960, for example, there were 78,000 fatal and serious accidents on the roads, and in only 71 of these was the illness, fatigue or physical defect of a commercial driver involved. Only when the Ministry and the Government are convinced that safety is involved should they take action.