§ Lord Stoddart of Swindonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, and if so how, the forthcoming European Community directive on coach standardisation will affect the future of double deck vehicles and those who build them; and what is the expected timescale for the issue of the directive.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen)A draft directive has not yet been formally proposed by the European Commission and, once proposed, will then be subject to negotiation. It is not, therefore, possible at104WA present to speculate on what its effect will be. A draft is likely to be tabled this year and the negotiations may take some considerable time.
The Government will continue to seek to ensure that the needs of the industry are safeguarded.