WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2974/97 by Joaquín SISÓ CRUELLAS to the Commission. Safety in fun parks
Date: 1997-09-17
Institutions: European Parliament, SISO CRUELLAS
Subjects: accident prevention, consumer protection, death, fact-finding mission, leisure park, product safety, roadworthiness tests, safety device, safety standard, transport accident

C 102/158

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

3. 4. 98

(98/C 102/236)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2973/97

by Joaqu(cid:14)·n Siso· Cruellas (PPE) to the Commission

(17 September 1997)

Subject: Computerization in European SMEs

A Spanish director of a major company which is a world leader in software development recently stated that, in
Spain,  only  half  as  much  is  invested  in  information  technologies  as  in  the  rest  of  Europe.  This  difference  is
particularly apparent in small and medium-sized companies, half of which have no personal computer whilst the
other half have no more than five, despite the fact that Spanish businessmen are aware of their importance as a
means of improving the competitiveness of SMEs.

1. Has the Commission any statistics, broken down for each individual country, concerning the percentage of
European Union SMEs with access to computerization? If so, could it make them available?

2. Could the Commission say whether SMEs are provided with any kind of Community aid to enable them to
make the necessary investment? If so, what kind of initiatives are being implemented?

Answer given by Mr Papoutsis on behalf of the Commission

(24 October 1997)

In  view  of  the  length  of  its  answer,  the  Commission  is  sending  it  direct  to  the  Honourable  Member  and  to
Parliament(cid:146)s Secretariat.

(98/C 102/237)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2974/97

by Joaqu(cid:14)·n Siso· Cruellas (PPE) to the Commission

(17 September 1997)

Subject: Safety in fun parks

On 5 July 1997 a person was killed at the Port Aventura fun park in Spain when he was flung from the Stampida
ride (the steepest wooden big dipper in the world) at the point at which it reaches its maximum speed (72 kmph)
after a pronounced slope. Those responsible for running the park pointed out that the Stampida carriages are
equipped with individual restraining devices which the park employees check before each ride and that, if any of
the bars fails to lock in place, this causes a cut-out which makes it impossible for the ride to start moving. At the
end of the particular trip in question the bar was found to be locked in place, for which reason the safety system is
considered to have worked. An investigation to determine the causes of the accident is currently under way.

Following this tragic event the media revealed that there were no laws whatsoever to govern the safety systems of
the various attractions in such parks. In view of the huge numbers of people who flock to such attractions during
their leisure time, could the Commission say whether there are any European rules on safety in fun parks?

Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission

(27 October 1997)

The  Commission  would  refer  the  Honourable  Member  to  the  reply  it  gave  to  Oral  Question  H-669/97  by
Mr Willockx during question time at Parliament(cid:146)s September 1997 part-session (1).

(1)  Debates of the Parliament (September 1997).