§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will urge the European Council of Ministers to tighten regulations governing drivers' hours; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyWe see no need at present for any significant change in the European Community rules on driving hours and rest periods. However, we do attach importance to more consistent and rigorous application and enforcement of existing rules throughout the Community. The Transport Council expressly agreed that objective during the German presidency. With a view to strengthening enforcement, the European Commission has published a draft regulation proposing an addition to the tachograph that would require the digital recording of drivers' hours on smart cards.
§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport in each of the last five years for which figures are available, how many offences were identified by the vehicle inspectorate in relation to drivers' hours in(a) Derbyshire and (b) North Yorkshire; and what percentage these figures represent of the overall national figures.
§ Mr. NorrisThe figures could be provided only at disproportionate cost.