§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he intends to support the amendment proposed by the French Government to regulation 3820/85 on drivers' working hours;
(2) what assessment he has made of the contribution of driver fatigue to road accidents; and what steps he is taking to promote drivers' health, safety and welfare in the discussions at the Council of Ministers on amendments to EEC regulation 3820/85.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe rules on drivers' hours were agreed in 1986 after lengthy discussions. It is too soon to be considering their amendment. A Council directive aimed at improving arrangements for enforcing the social regulations on drivers' hours and tachographs was implemented last year.
Most accidents are caused by a combination of many different factors. Studies indicate that fatigue is a contributory factor in between 4 and 11 per cent. of accidents.
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§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the likely impact on heavy goods vehicle driver employment in the United Kingdom domestic haulage companies of the implementation of the single European market.
§ Mr. AtkinsA study by the Polytechnic of Central London showed that about 1 per cent. of United Kingdom domestic traffic was at risk from caboteurs, but that there were more than compensating opportunities for United Kingdom hauliers abroad.
§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information he has as to the ratio between employed heavy goods vehicle drivers and owner-drivers employed in the United Kingdom and between the two categories of heavy goods vehicles drivers in other European Community member countries.
§ Mr. AtkinsThere are over 1 million current holders of HGV driver licences. Information is not available on the ratio of employed to owner-drivers, but the latter will represent a relatively small proportion. Likewise, we do not keep information on other European Community countries.