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A stay of execution on the

2nd July 1976, Page 4
2nd July 1976
Page 4
Page 4, 2nd July 1976 — A stay of execution on the
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eight-hour day AN EIGHT-MONTH stay of execution on the dreaded eighthour driving day has been granted by the EEC Commission.

In an eleventh hour decision before Britain's postponement of the Euro law •ran out on July 1, Brussels agreed to a further deferment until the end of March next year.

But although it was welcome news for worried hauliers, it was less than Transport Minister, Dr John Gilbert, had asked for.

He had gone to the Commission for an 18 months deferment of regulation 543/69, Which includes the eight-hour day.

This would have meant that Britain's 10-hour driving day would have stayed the legal maximum until the end of 1977.

Shorter period

Instead the Commissioners decided to give both the UK and Ireland a considerably shorcer period. This was probably because they still have plans to significantly change regulation 543/69.

Last March it was proposed that a safeguard clause be added to the rule. A member state in economic difficulties would be able to ask for a postponement until the end of 1977, And if it was still in trouble over implementing the regulation a further delay could be asked for.

Present deferments have been granted under article 135, the emergency clause of the Treaty of Accession. But Britain would not be eligible to use this clause again.

New draft

On May 26, the Select Committee on European Secondary Legislation discussed the new draft legislation on road transport (642/76) which would replace Regulation 543/69. It recommended that it should be considered further by the Commons.

• The new draft includes proposals relating to the length of the working day and week, annual 'holiday entitlement and the payment of bonuses.

The Transport Minister Dr John Gilbert, had told the Committee earlier that he was hopeful that he could get changes in the existing rules and that the new proposals would go some way to meeting objections from both sides of the road haulage industry.

Unhappy

When he reported on those new proposals on May 26, the Committee said it was disappointed that the new draft contained many of the same provisions to which it had drawn the attention of tl House.

Some of the propos( changes could help the Unit( Kingdom, in particular the pe mifting of bonus payments pr vided that they were of a kit such as not to endanger roa safety. The Minister agreel however, that he was far froo content with other new pal posals.

Though he was still optimil tic of securing favourabl changes it seemed to the Corr mittee that the serious ISSUE involved should be examine in the House because of t legal and political issues.


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