HC Deb 07 June 1978 vol 951 cc175-7
5. Mr. Montgomery

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage the implementation of the EEC regulations on drivers' hours (543/69).

Mr. William Rodgers

I am in close touch with both sides of the industry about the phased implementation now taking place.

Mr. Montgomery

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether there are any plans, before the implementation of the EEC regulations on drivers' hours, to repeal those parts of the 1968 Transport Act which are causing such chaos and confusion in the transport industry?

Mr. Rodgers

There are no such plans. There are problems with introducing regulation No. 543. I have allowed a honeymoon or phasing-in period and, of course, discussions are continuing about questions of derogation and harmonisation. These are difficult issues, but I shall keep closely in touch with both sides of the industry about them.

Mr. Stan Crowther

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is widespread anxiety in the road transport industry, both passenger and freight, about the introduction of these regulations? Is this not yet another example of interference by the EEC Commission in an area in which our own legislation is perfectly adequate? Does my right hon. Friend accept that the longer he can continue the honeymoon period to which he has referred the more popular he will be in the industry?

Mr. Skinner

I am not sure about that.

Mr. Rodgers

I am grateful for that hint. We were able to negotiate a phasing-in period of three years for these regulations which was in a sense a bonus on top of the period of delay which had occurred. I shall do all that I can to make life easier for both the passenger and the freight industries, since the latter is facing some increases in costs as a result of this.

Mr. Watt

Will the Minister assure the livestock hauliers of the North of Scotland that he will continue a derogation on drivers' hours to all those who have to operate on such inadequate roads? Will the Minister take the opportunity, some time during the summer, of having a motoring holiday in the North of Scotland so that he can see for himself the situation which pertains where heavy lorries have to operate on such narrow roads with very heavy loads of livestock?

Mr. Rodgers

I am attracted by the hon. Member's final suggestion, but I am not sure that it will be possible. I take his word that there are very special problems in North-East Scotland as a result of the regulations. I shall continue to do what I can by way of derogation.

Mr. Spearing

As my right hon. Friend said in the June issue of Socialist Commentary, his view is that long-standing domestic regulations can be quite as effective as harmonised ones from the EEC without risk to commercial competition. Does he not think that this controversial regulation No. 543 comes within that circumstance, and would he not wish therefore to restore the power of this House to throw it out?

Mr. Rodgers

I have to accept realistically all the problems that result from membership of the EEC, which I supported and have no regrets about doing so. However, I certainly believe that there are a number of respects in which the Commission's passion for harmonisation does not make good sense. Whereas it is desirable to have rules affecting international journeys, quite often we can be left alone to continue the working arrangements that we have built up over a long period of years.

Mr. Fry

Surely the Secretary of State will recall that up until January this year his Department's impression was that those sections of the Transport Act 1968 relating to the driving day would be superseded by the EEC regulations. All that he has done since then, having misled the industry, is to suggest a vague kind of harmonisation. Does he realise that he will have to do something concrete, otherwise the extra costs that the industry will incur will come through in prices to the public?

Mr. Rodgers

I do not think that I misled the industry and I do not think that the industry believes that either. There were very difficult problems of interpretation—I will not deny that—and the position was not wholly clear until after 1st January, when regulation No. 543 applied. I shall continue to do all I can to help, but I cannot mislead the House or the industry into believing that we shall have a change of policy on this matter.