§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Transport to what extent the EEC regulation operative from 26th January 1978 imposing a 300-mile journey limit on road haulage drivers have been discussed and agreed with the Transport and General Workers' Union; and what steps he is taking to see that this regulation is enforced on the owners of one or two lorries and those referred to in the industry as cowboys.
§ Mr. William RodgersThe provision in EEC Regulation 543/69 restricts the daily distance for single-manned non-rigid goods vehicles of over 20 tonnes maximum permissible weight to 450 km (281 miles) unless they are using a tachograph. I have explained to the Transport and General Workers' Union that the whole regulation was accepted on the United Kingdom's accession to the Community and formally applied in this country from 1st January this year.
The statutory instrument for the enforcement of the regulations will apply equally to all operators regardless of the size of their undertaking. I have, however, made it clear that the Government recognise that changes cannot in practice be achieved immediately and that an extensive "running in" period is desirable.