Railways: EU Action

Mrs. Dunwoody
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what timescale will be covered by the UK’s proposed derogation from the EU proposal 2004/0048 (COD) for a European Parliament and Council directive on the certification of train drivers operating locomotives and trains on the Community’s rail network.

Mr. Tom Harris
The renewable derogation allowing member states to disapply on a time-limited basis provisions in the proposed directive on the certification of train drivers operating locomotives and trains is for a period of 10 years.

The UK is minded to invoke this derogation. However, details of its implementation, especially with regard to any future renewal of the derogation, will be subject to consultation with the industry and users once the final text has been agreed both by the European Council and the European Parliament.