§ Sir C. Osborneasked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the motor coach accident last week in Germany where 12 Lincolnshire people lost their lives, she will introduce regulations requiring additional examination, especially of brakes and steering gear, of all motor coaches used for taking large numbers of people on long distance journeys on the Continent.
§ Mrs. CastleI was deeply distressed to hear of the accident in Germany last212W week. As it is under investigation by the German authorities I cannot comment on its possible causes.
All public service vehicles are required to comply with the provisions of the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations, 1966 and the Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness) Regulations, 1958.
Every public service vehicle is rigorously inspected by a Ministry engineer at least once a year to ensure that it satisfies these regulations. In view of this and the excellent safety record of these vehicles I do not think that further regulations requiring additional examinations are necessary.