§ Mr. BowisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make it his policy to resist European Commission proposals which would bar deaf people from driving minibuses and light goods vehicles.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThere is no justification on road safety grounds for tougher controls on the drivers of minibuses and light goods vehicles. We are pressing the European Commission at every level to avoid placing unnecessary restrictions on them. We can see no justification for preventing deaf people from driving such vehicles.
We want to maintain and enhance mobility for special needs groups and common interest groups. We do not want unnecessary additional driving and medical tests. We aim to protect our present arrangements in the 11W negotiations in the Council of Ministers. I am sending a copy of this question and answer to the new Commissioner for Transport.