asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has begun the consultation process on draft regulations to require speed limiters to be fitted to all coaches which are capable of exceeding the motorway speed limit.

A technical standard for speed limiters has now been agreed. Draft regulations based on the standard are being circulated to interested parties today, which set a timetable for all coaches to be fitted with speed limiters calibrated to a maximum speed of 70 mph. The draft regulations would require new coaches to be fitted with a speed limiter from 1 April 1988, those first used on or after 1 April 1984 from 1 April 1989, and older coaches from 1 April 1990. Coaches first used before 1 April 1987 would not be affected by the proposals. Any limiter fitted before the regulations come into effect would not need to comply with all the details of the British Standard, but would have to meet the tamper-proofing and calibration requirements.