HL Deb 27 March 1979 vol 399 cc1463-4

2.41 p.m.

Lord REIGATE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether British Road Services were among the employers referred to by Baroness Stedman as being "against both the installation and use of the tachograph" (Official Report, 8th March, col. 297).

The PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of the ENVIRONMENT (Baroness Stedman)

My Lords, the words which the noble Lord quotes represent the position in recent years of the main employers' organisations, rather than the attitude of individual employers. The National Freight Corporation, of which British Road Services is a subsidiary, said in their evidence to the Foster Committee on road haulage operators' licensing that they, as a responsible employer, would welcome the introduction of the tachograph, as a contribution to effective enforcement of the operators' licensing system.

Lord REIGATE

My Lords, while I, for once in a way, sincerely thank the noble Baroness for that Answer, can she say how many tachographs BRS have themselves installed and what percentage are actually operating?

Baroness STEDMAN

My Lords, no, I cannot say how many have been installed or how many are operating. My understanding is that the new lorries, which are being supplied to all the operators, have the tachograph as part of their normal equipment. It is only taken out at the request of the person who is buying the lorry, if he does not want it. Any lorries which carry out trade on the Continent must have a tachograph because they have to abide by the rules and regulations of other European countries. In some cases the tachograph is being used voluntarily in this country.