§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals are being advanced by the 159W European Commission to the Council of Ministers on the procedure for licensing bus services within the Community after 1992; and what is his assessment of the effect of these proposals on United Kingdom bus operators with services to the continent.
§ Mr. PortilloThe Commission has submitted proposals to liberalise and simplify some of the rules governing international bus and coach services in the Community, and to permit road passenger transport cabotage. The proposals have still to be agreed, and envisage a more far-reaching proposal by 1990. United Kingdom coach operators would be subject to more intensive competition in certain areas and would benefit from the increased opportunities which deregulation would bring.