Written question asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering (Conservative) on Monday, 30 April 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 8 May 2001. It was answered by Keith Hill (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 May 2001 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, what plans he has to regulate the size of buses. - Includes ref to 10 April 2001, 366 c497-9W. (Holding answer 3 May 2001).

Answer: Miss McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to regulate the size of buses. [160142] Mr. Hill: [holding answer 3 May 2001]: The size of buses is currently regulated by the Road Vehicle (Construction and Use) Regulations which in turn incorporate dimensions that have to be accepted by all European Union countries through Directive 96/53/EC. Amendments to this Directive to allow longer buses are currently under discussion. In my response of 10 April to a question from my hon. Friend the Member for Clydesdale (Mr. Hood), Official Report, columns 497-99W, I explained that the Council had reached a general political agreement on allowing the use of buses up to 15 metres long. But owing to UK concerns over the manoeuvrability of these vehicles the text for a derogation for us would be remitted to COREPER for further consideration. It is unlikely that a final agreement will be reached before the end of this year.

Secondary information