§ 70. Sir H. Harrisonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what impact he expects will occur upon roads in Suffolk as a result of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community; and what action consequent thereon he intends to take.
§ Mr. PeytonIt is hard to make any worthwhile estimate of the kind asked for. No decision on weight limits has yet been reached by the Community.
§ 80. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, under the existing rules and regulations of the European Eoconomic Community and any proposals being considered on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, British motorists and their insurance companies will be free to have any type of insurance with or without harmonisation of cover, risks and premiums, within the legal enactments of the Road Traffic Acts as at present; and whether the British Parliament will be able to alter these without reference to the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsAlthough under current Community proposals, policies will have to give Community-wide cover, national law will continue to govern what liabilities are compulsorily insurable. As the hon. Member has been told before, the necessary extension of cover will be effected in such a way as not to affect premiums.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have now entered into agreements with the various public transport undertakings regarding the subsidising of rural bus services; and to what extent, on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community under the present rules and regulations, such subsidising will be permitted without reference to the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. Eldon GriffithsI know of 75 authorities in England so far. I understand that in Scotland and Wales the figures are 22 and 20 respectively.
291WI foresee no change in our policy resulting from entry into Europe.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what impact he now expects will occur upon roads in Suffolk and the Greater London area as a result of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community; and if he will make a progress report on the discussions with the Community about increases in the proposed weight limits.
§ Mr. PeytonIt is hard to make any worthwhile estimate of the kind asked for. No decision on weight limits has yet been reached by the Community.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he will not publish in the Official Report a detailed list showing to what extent under the existing rules and regulations of the European Economic Community and those now proposed, on Great Britain's entry, the use of cars and vehicles on the roads will be affected so far as tax, insurance, vehicle licensing, road testing, and all other existing legislation is concerned; and to what extent harmonisation will have to take place with the European Economic Community regulations.
§ Mr. PeytonThe information has not been collected in this form. To do so would be both inordinately expensive and unnecessary. It would soon be out of date.