§ 2.51 p.m.
§ Lord John-MackieMy 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 they intend to press the Council of Ministers to adopt a maximum design speed of 33 km/h for wheeled agricultural and forestry tractors and to move as speedily as possible towards the implementation of the comprehensive tractor harmonisation programme within the Community, as recommended by the European Communities Committee.
The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Earl Ferrers)My Lords, the Government have already done so. We have urged, and are likely to secure, early agreement to the raising of the limit to 30 kilometres per hour. This will be of considerable benefit to United Kingdom tractor manufacturers.
§ Lord John-MackieYes, my Lords, I am sure that companies engaged in tractor manufacturing—in which this country is the biggest in Europe—will be delighted at this, but could the noble Earl say what he means by "early"? It would be delightful for tractor manufacturers if they knew when; the noble Earl said "early" and I would like to know when "early" is.
Earl FerrersMy Lords, early tends to be earlier rather than later. I can tell the noble Lord that the issue is likely to go to the Committee of Permanent Representatives on this basis later this month and thereafter, of course, it will go to the Council of Ministers.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that the Select Committee on Agriculture, of which I have the privilege of being the chairman, recommended that this proposal should be accepted and will be delighted that the Government are taking this step—especially in view of the fact that all the evidence before the Select Committee from representatives of the farmers and of the producers was of the unanimous view that this proposal should go through?
Earl FerrersMy Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos, for that. I thought that he was going to castigate me for not going for 33 kilometres per hour, which was the figure in the noble Lord's Question. I can tell him that the Government did press for 33 kilometres per hour. In fact, the 7 agreement was for 30 kilometres per hour, but there is a tolerance of 10 per cent., which will permit manufacturers to design for 33 kilometres per hour.
§ Lord CollisonMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that there has been concern in some places with regard to the safety factor? Is he aware also that when Sub-Committee B dealt with this matter a copy of the proposals was sent to the National Union of Agricultural Workers (now a section of the Transport and General Workers' Union) and that they raised no objections to it; and that from the workers' point of view they seem to be quite happy and accept this proposal?
Earl FerrersMy Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Collison, for telling me once again that the National Union of Agricultural Workers which was, and which is now part of the Transport and General Workers' Union, has reacted in its characteristically helpful manner.