HC Deb 23 November 1978 vol 958 c735W
Mr. Ovenden

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what action he pro-poses to take in relation to EEC directive 914/76 concerning the minimum level of training for the issue of certificates of professional competency, particularly in respect of the driving of vehicles with more than 16 seats carrying non-fare paying passengers.

Mr. William Rodgers

I propose to lay before Parliament shortly regulations to implement that part of EEC directive 76/914 which relates to the minimum level of training and certificate of professional competence of some drivers of passenger vehicles with more than nine seats overall used on international journeys, and more than 15 seats overall used on journeys wholly within the United King-dom. Heavy goods vehicle trainee driver licences issued to drivers between the ages of 18 and 21 will do duty as certificates of professional competence which they require under the same directive.