§ Miss McIntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what plans she has to publish in draft Regulations giving effect to the Horizontal Working Time Directive in the transport industry; and when she expects to(a) make and (b) lay before Parliament Regulations giving such effect; [120712]
(2) what estimate she has made of the effect upon the transport industry of a delay in making Regulations giving effect to the Horizontal Working Time Directive; [120713]
(3) what plans she has to consult with the transport industry in advance of implementation of the Horizontal Working Time Directive; and what assessment she has made of the time needed by the transport sector to prepare for implementation. [120714]
§ Mr. SutcliffeI hope to make and lay the Regulations covering all sectors affected by the Horizontal Amending Directive in early July 2003. I have made no 809W formal assessment of the effect of any delay in doing so on the transport industry as I expect that the Regulations will come into force on 1 August 2003, the date set by the Directive. The transport industry have contributed extensively to consultation on this subject, and I am aware that they are already working with Department of Trade and Industry officials to prepare for implementation.