§ Earl Attleeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will ensure that any new European Union drivers' hours and tachograph regulations or directives do not change the current situation in respect of historic goods and public service vehicles used privately; and [HL63111
Whether there are any new European Union drivers' hours and tachograph regulations or directives that could change the current situation in respect of goods and public service vehicles used privately; and, if so, what would be the effect; and [HL6312]
Whether it is their policy to ensure that European Union directives and regulations do not adversely affect historic goods and public service vehicles used privately. [HL6313]
§ Lord Macdonald of Tradeston:The European Commission's proposal to amend Regulation (EEC) 3820/85 on drivers' hours does not include specific measures to bring historic vehicles into the scope of the rules. The new draft regulation would still allow member states, with the consent of the Commission, to grant exceptions on their territory for operations carried out in exceptional circumstances, as we have for all vehicles built before January 1947 and certain public service vehicles over 25 years old.
The exemption of historic goods vehicles built since 1947 has hitherto relied upon another provision of the regulation which exempts "vehicles used for the noncommercial carriage of goods for personal use". The Commission proposal would place a 7.5 tonne limit on this exemption and the UK and several other member states have pointed out that this would bring historic vehicles above this weight into scope. The UK and some other member states will continue to press for historic vehicles used non-commercially to remain outside the scope of the rules.