§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress he has made in his representations to the EEC Commission about the provision in the second transport directive relating to the practice in the United Kingdom of permitting volunteer drivers to be in charge of small coaches for transporting disabled persons; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe proposals do not appear to go far enough since they would still involve a second test and higher medical standards for minibus drivers. These requirements would cause serious problems for organisations relying on volunteer drivers.
The Government will continue to press for whatever changes are needed to allow these voluntary services to continue their valuable work. We have written to the commission to point out the safety record of minibuses. The table sets out the figures.
Elders plc that it would not buy shares in Scottish and Newcastle Breweries plc, when it was advised that its bid was to be referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission; what assurances were received from Elders; and what alterations he proposes in order to make assurances mandatory and binding in future cases.
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§ Mr. MaudeElders' advisers were clearly informed by the Office of Fair Trading at the time of the announcement of the reference that undertakings not to purchase further shares in Scottish and Newcastle were being sought. In the light of Elders' action the Secretary of State made an interim order under the Fair Trading Act 1973 requiring Elders not to acquire any further shares and not to vote any shares in Scottish and Newcastle above 15 per cent.
The Secretary of State also announced that in future a similar prohibition on further share purchases will come into effect at the time a reference to the MMC is announced. At present this requires a new order to be made for each reference. It is intended that this prohibition will be put on a permanent footing by inclusion in the provisions relating to mergers in the forthcoming Companies Bill.