§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what 774W representations have been made to him regarding the conflict between the provisions of the Road Traffic Act relating to statutory meal breaks for drivers of heavy goods vehicles carrying petroleum products and other hazardous loads, and the requirement that at night such vehicles should be parked in lorry parks, bearing in mind that the Petroleum Act requires that drivers should be in close proximity to their vehicles; and what proposals he has for resolving this contradiction;
(2) whether, in view of the contradictions in the law regarding the parking of heavy goods vehicles, and in particular tankers carrying hazardous loads and the problems these create for drivers seeking to comply with the provisions for statutory meal breaks, he will have early consultations with the employers and trade unions concerned so as to end the present uncertainty among lorry drivers who if they comply with one law are obliged to break another.
§ Dr. GilbertNo formal representations have been made, but one enquiry has been received at official level about the interpretation of similar EEC requirements. The operation of the existing law is being reviewed and I will ask the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission to ensure that this particular matter is not overlooked, taking into account the views of the employers' associations and the trade unions concerned.