Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Transport when he proposes to give advice to local authority bus undertakings concerning the new arrangements negotiated at the recent meeting of EEC Transport Ministers regarding the regulation on drivers' hours; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe decision of the Council of Ministers on a "safeguard" provision for the step by step implementation of EEC Regulation 543/69 on drivers' hours empowered the EEC Commission to decide on the detailed programme of implementation. The Government's proposals are with the Commission, but further advice cannot usefully be given to bus undertakings until the formal decision of the Commission has been received.