Little chance of change to drivers' hours
Page 6
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• New European legislation on drivers' working time is unlikely because national governments would not accept it.
Insiders at the office of Neil Kinnock, EL Transport Commissioner, say that none of the European states except France are in favour of applying the hours rules to LGV drivers. Despite this the Commission is preparing a white paper suggesting an extension of the 48hour working week rule to the transport sector.
A Brussels-based UK diplomat adds that any efforts to limit working time would certainly be opposed by all southern european countries, which need low-cost transport to keep in touch with European economic centres.
However, Kinnock's office is "much more optimistic as far as non-mobile personnel are concerned".
This would mean that the 48hour rule could be applied to transport companies' office staff.