HC Deb 21 May 1996 vol 278 cc124-5W
Mr. Roy Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he has now received all replies from the relevant national authorities on eyesight requirements for lorry drivers, required by the second European directive on driving licences. 91/439/EEC; when a final decision will be made; and if he will make a statement. [31417]

Mr. Norris

Information has not yet been received from all national authorities. We are currently considering precisely how the new eyesight requirements should be implemented.

Mr. Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reconsideration has been given to his earlier pronouncement about the abolition from 1 July 1996 of the rights of drivers who under previous United Kingdom regulations had obtained a bus or lorry licence by satisfying the then statutory or administrative eyesight requirements and whose eyesight had not since their last renewal deteriorated below those standards. [30414]

Mr. Norris

My right hon. Friend announced on 25 April at column248 that implementation of some of the provisions of the Second EC directive on driving licences, including changes to eyesight requirements for driving lorries and buses, would now take place on 1 January 1997.