§ Mr. FlightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on progress in securing compensation for United Kingdom haulage companies which suffered losses as a result of the industrial action around French ports during the summer. [13038]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonWe have no information on claims for compensation in respect of the dispute which blocked some French Ports in April 1997. It may be that hauliers have claimed directly from the French. We are in 53W close touch with the French authorities over the outstanding claims for compensation in respect of the lorry blockade in November 1996.
§ Mr. FlightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will make a statement on the consistency of road traffic regulations in different member countries of the EU which affect United Kingdom haulage companies. [13034]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonMost EU legislation on road haulage is aimed at completing the single market in transport: even where agreements have been reached there is often some scope for variations and exemptions between States. There are also, in practice, some differences in interpretation of EU legislation and inconsistencies in its application. By contrast, much other road traffic legislation is better made at national level taking account of the differences in road condition, driver training, penalties and enforcement in individual Member States.
Differences may include the side of the road on which traffic passes, maximum lorry weights, speed limits, the provisions of various national highways codes, priorities at roundabouts, night-time, weekend and bank holiday lorry bans, lorry routeing, and the requirement to pay tolls or purchase vignettes. There are also various more specialised requirements such as documents or markings on the vehicle giving details of weights and dimensions of the vehicle and the threshold for requirements to notify police authorities and highway agencies of abnormal loads. The penalties are those laid down in national penal codes.
§ Mr. FlightTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions on how many occasions since 1 May Her Majesty's Government have protested to other EU member states about the treatment of United Kingdom lorry drivers by local police or other authorities in their countries; and if he will make a statement. [13036]
§ Ms Glenda JacksonWe have written on 16 occasions to the governments of other Member States following requests from UK hauliers for assistance. Most of these were in relation to disputed fines.