§ Mr. Milneasked the Minister of Transport if she will initiate discussions with all European countries with a view to drawing up legally enforceable regulations to protect holidaymakers travelling abroad with Continental, particularly Belgian, coach operators.
§ Mr. SwinglerAll European countries have safety requirements which apply to their own vehicles and to those of other countries when running within their boundaries. International requirements for vehicles and drivers generally are prescribed by the Convention on Road Traffic of 1949. A European Agreement to regulate the hours of driving and rest periods of drivers of commercial vehicles in international road transport was drawn up in 1962 but has not yet come into force. As stated by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in her reply of 1st August to the hon. Member for Belfast, North, Her Majesty's Government desire to see the Agreement in operation over as large an area as possible and will use such influence as is open to them to secure this.