§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied with the present system of granting licences to tour operators to run coaches in Europe.
§ Mr. FowlerThe operation of international coach services is governed by international rules. The British Government favour the maximum freedom of competition, provided that the safe operation of vehicles and drivers is assured.
§ Mr. Pawseyasked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied that adequate safety regulations exist and are enforced for coach operators travelling to and from the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. FowlerI am satisfied that the present regulations are adequate, and it has always been an object of my policy to ensure that these are properly complied with in Britain. As to the recent tragic accident in France involving an Autocars Julia coach, the French authorities are to hold a judicial inquiry and I shall study the report carefully.
In the meantime, officials of my Department have met representatives of the Spanish Ministry of Transport and coach operators and have received assurances from all the Spanish operators on the London-Spain regular coach services that 456W the services will be operated strictly in accordance with the international agreements governing the hours of work of drivers on international coach services.
The operators also confirmed that complete records would be kept of the hours worked by drivers and that no driver would drive for more than eight hours per day. The Spanish Government confirmed the importance they attach to these agreements and their determination that they should be adhered to.
My Department will keep in close touch with the Spanish authorities so that we can both ensure these undertakings are adhered to.