HC Deb 18 January 1978 vol 942 cc445-6
15. Mr. Teddy Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the road haulage industry about the effect on Scottish transport costs of the EEC regulations on drivers' hours; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gregor MacKenzie

My right hon. Friend has kept in close touch with developments on this matter through my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport, who is well aware of the special problems that the regulations pose for the more remote parts of the United Kingdom. My right hon. Friend has assured those Scottish transport bodies, including the Scottish Transport Group, which have written to him of his concern and of his efforts to obtain the best possible terms for a staged implementation.

Mr. Taylor

Is the Minister aware that the 450-km limit for a daily journey is causing serious problems in Scottish transport and will have the result of increasing costs substantially? Is he aware of the special problems which this limit creates since the unions are unwilling to have the tachographs installed? Does he see any way out of the problem of the 450-km limit, which has to apply as a result of our membership of the Community?

Mr. MacKenzie

It is right to say that some concessions have been made on the 450-km limit which have been valuable to Scottish interests. We are grateful to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport for having negotiated them. It is not easy to quantify the costs at this moment. All the points that have been raised by the hon. Gentleman will be borne in mind. From time to time we come upon tricky problems following our entry into the EEC. The hon. Member is not, perhaps, as enthusiastic about our entry as are some of his colleagues. We have to make these regulations work, and we shall do so.

Mr. Speaker

Order. I hope that right hon. and hon. Members will do me the favour of studying Hansard when it comes out tomorrow and seeing how long the supplementary questions and answers have been. That accounts for the fact that we have reached fewer Questions today than we have reached for at least the last two months.

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