§ 1. Mr. Cockeramasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when, in the event of the United Kingdom joining the European Economic Community, the United Kingdom will be required to comply with European Economic Community regulations concerning drivers' hours.
§ The Minister for Transport Industries (Mr. John Peyton)We have asked for a transitional period of four years from the date of entry.
§ Mr. CockeramHas my right hon. Friend made any estimate of the cost to British industry if we were to adopt E.E.C. standards? Further, has he an announcement to make about the consultations that he proposes to have with the operators and the unions on this subject, which he announced to the House on 3rd August?
§ Mr. PeytonI am in more or less constant contact with the operators and unions. It is a little too early to estimate the cost.
§ Mr. BradleyIn view of the right hon. Gentleman's reply, will he say why the Government, as recently as 1st July this year, bothered to force through regulations which they must have known ran counter to the E.E.C.'s requirements?
§ Mr. PeytonIf I may say so, the hon. Gentleman has asked a very good question. I always have hopes that the standards which we produce here might have some influence elsewhere. At any rate, I do not intend to give up the struggle too easily.
§ 2. Mr. Montgomeryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when, in the event of the United Kingdom joining the European Economic Community, the United Kingdom will be required to comply with European Economic Community regulations concerning the installation of tachographs on road goods vehicles.
§ Mr. PeytonTachographs would need to be fitted to all vehicles by 1978.
§ Mr. MontgomeryIs my right hon. Friend aware that the installation of tachographs would be welcomed by many people in the transport industry, and that it has been particularly popular with the unions on the continent? Could he announce the result of his consultations with the unions and the operators at this stage?
§ Mr. PeytonI am obliged to my hon. Friend for his helpful remarks. I am due to have a meeting in the near future with the unions. I am always ready to consult the operators at any time.
§ Mr. Leslie HuckfieldIs the Minister aware that the other side of the transport industry does not have at all the same feelings about the tachograph? Would he not agree that he would set a far better example for the installation of the tachograph if he at least prescribed some minimum technical standard?
§ Mr. PeytonI am very sorry, but I am unable to recall what reservations the hon. Member entered when the 1968 Transport Act was under discussion in the House.
§ 6. Mr. Fryasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when, in the event of Great Britain joining the European Economic Community, the present weight restrictions on heavy goods vehicles will be relaxed to conform with European Economic Community regulations.
§ Mr. PeytonThere is as yet no E.E.C. regulation on goods vehicle weight limits.
§ Mr. FryIf there is need for negotiations with the E.E.C. on this subject, will my right hon. Friend bear in mind the capacity of our road system and the need to improve it?
§ Mr. PeytonIndeed I will. I never lose any opportunity to raise with my European opposite numbers the dangers of allowing the limits to rise beyond a level which can be safely accommodated in the ancient towns and cities of Europe as well as this country.
§ Mr. HefferIs it not true that even on our motorways many drivers feel that the capacity of some of the larger lorries is already too high? Therefore, will the 1703 right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that he will resist any raising of the present limits?
§ Mr. PeytonI have nothing to add to what I said just now. I am very conscious of the need to keep the loads down to limits which are sensible and which our road system can accommodate.