§ Mr. Porterasked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the inland transport matters discussed at the Council of Transport Ministers of the European Communities which met on 4 December.
§ Mr. FowlerThe Council took note of the European Commission's report on the implementation during 1977 of the regulation on drivers' hours (543/69). In so doing, the Council also adopted a resolution stressing the need for tougher and more consistent enforcement throughout the Community.
The Council also considered proposals for an increase in the Community road haulage quota, but no increase was agreed, other than an allocation to Greece when she joins the Community on 1 January 1981. The Council will consider the quota issue again as a major agenda item at its next meeting in March 1981.
Proposals on rail freight tariffs and combined transport were referred back to the Committee of Permanent Representatives for further examination. The Council heard progress reports on various other matters, including the European Commission's proposals on transport infrastructure.
Following the House's endorsement of the proposals for a Community driving licence, I was able to lift the United Kingdom reserve on this directive. The Council has now adopted the directive, for details of which I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. McQuarrie) on 8 December 1980.