HC Deb 21 November 1977 vol 939 cc497-8W
Mr. Banks

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will outline representations he has made to the EEC Commission on the proposed new regulation dealing with the harmonisation of certain social legislation relating to road transport as far as the working period for drivers is concerned.

Mr. William Rodgers

The Council of Ministers (Transport) adopted a number of permanent amendments to the EEC Regulation 543/69 as well as agreeing a safeguard provision under which the Commission can authorise a staged programme of up to three years for full implementation by the United Kingdom of the EEC régime. We have now made the necessary application to the Commission and in particular have proposed that the changes to be effective from 1st January 1978 should be limited to the followingThe complete legislative framework of Regulation (EEC) No. 543/69 will apply in place of existing national legislation. This will involve,inter alia, a reduction in the maximum period between the start of the first duty and the end of the last duty of the day for passsenger vehicle crews from 16 hours to 15½ hours.

Article 7—Driving time

  • Daily—10 hours;
  • Weekly—60 hours (reduction of 10 hours for passenger vehicles);

Fortnightly—118 hours (reduction of 12 hours for passenger vehicles and 2 hours for goods vehicles);

Continuous period—5½ hours.

Article 11—Daily rest period

  • Goods vehicles—full implementation;
  • Passenger vehicles—10 hours with 3 x 8½ hours.

Article 12—Weekly rest period (retaining Transport Act definition of a "week")

  • Goods vehicles—Add daily rest period to 24 hours rest;
  • Passenger vehicles—24 hours, not necessarily joined to a daily rest period, with the exceptional possibility of one rest period of 24 hours in two weeks.