Double Decker Buses

HC Deb 30 October 2002 vol 391 cc857-8W

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what progress has been made on the EU Bus Directive; and if he will make a statement on the future use of double decker buses in the UK.[Transferred] [77880]

Mr. Jamieson

The Directive was adopted on 20th November 2001. Officials at my Department are in the process of completing an initial consultation requesting views on the proposed method of implementing it into UK legislation. We are proposing to integrate the requirements of the directive into a consolidation of existing bus and coach regulations to make them simpler and easier to understand. It is hoped to implement this consolidation in the latter half of 2003.

The Directive will have no effect on the use of existing double-decker buses operating in the UK. Our regulations will permit the current design of low floor, accessible double deck buses to continue to be produced.