§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what impact he estimates the European Commission's White Paper: European Transport Policy for 2010: Time to Decide will have upon the(a) flexibility and (b) profitability of taxi cab drivers in the UK; and if he will make a statement. [104541]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Government do not envisage that the proposals outlined in the European Commission's White Paper will have any direct impact on taxi cab drivers in the UK.
§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how his Department will incorporate the proposals made in the Commission's White Paper: European Transport Policy for 2010: Time to Decide into domestic legislation to ensure that road safety is improved. [104542]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe Commission has indicated that the new road safety action programme promised in the White Paper will be published soon. The programme is expected to identify the measures the Commission believes are needed to achieve its overall objective of 50 per cent. fewer deaths on European roads between 2000 and 2010. The White Paper indicated that the Commission would monitor progress towards the 2010 year target and, if by 2005 progress was unsatisfactory, would come forward with new proposals. As and when such proposals are tabled, the Government will consider them carefully to determine that legislation at the European level is both appropriate and proportionate.
§ Mr. SayeedTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will ensure that the financial cost of the proposals in the European Transport Policy for 2010 White Paper will not be carried by drivers in the UK. [104543]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe White Paper provides insufficient detail of the Commission's future plans to determine precisely what impact they might have in the UK. We shall need to look carefully at any formal legislative proposals which emerge before determining our final position. But, at this stage, we do not envisage any significant costs will fall directly on UK drivers.