§ Lord Pearson of Rannochasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will reconsider the answer given by Baroness Hayman on 30 June (WA 4), in view of the press release from the European Commission dated 18 June 1997 saying that, "The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a Directive on technical provisions for buses and coaches".
§ Baroness HaymanThe Commission's press release confirmed that the Commission has now decided what its proposal should be. Because the proposal is not yet available in all the working languages of the Community, the Commission is not yet able formally to transmit the proposal to the European Parliament and Council and thus to the member states. However we have now had sight of an advance copy of the English text (minus diagrams). While we have not yet had time to study the details of the proposal, we believe that it should be welcomed as a useful single market measure. We understand that it recognises and makes provision for minibuses, midibuses and double decker buses. Detailed study of the provisions is required before any conclusions can be made on the adequacy and acceptability of the proposals. I will be submitting to the House an explanatory memorandum with the advance text as soon as possible.