HC Deb 12 July 1988 vol 137 cc139-40W
Mr. Riddick

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether European Community directives will restrict the use of historic motor vehicles.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

No. I can assure my hon. Friend that there are no plans to restrict the use of historic vehicles through the introduction of retrospective legislation. It would be unreasonable to require the original features of old vehicles to be adapted or replaced in order to comply with the various EC directives which apply to new vehicles. The recent EC directives on vehicle emissions apply only to new vehicles. There is no question of their being made retrospective.

I am sure the Commission has no plans to make any proposals that would adversely affect the many historic vehicle enthusiasts in Europe.