Letter: Motorbikes and Maastricht

YOUR article on the potential European Union ban of the sale of powerful superbikes ('Superbike ban looms', 27 March) drew attention to an important issue but is inaccurate when it states that if the European Parliament rejects it for a second time 'it can only become law with the unanimous consent of member states'.

The truth is that if MEPs throw it out again, the Commission's proposal will be killed off and there is nothing that the member states will be able to do. There will thus be no power limits on motorcycles.

The new powers given to the European Parliament under the Maastricht treaty will have been successfully used to defeat this unnecessary bureaucratic proposal and to protect, without compromising safety, consumer choice and a competitive European industry.

Roger Barton MEP (Lab) Peter Beazley MEP Con)

Brussels