FTA wants compensation...
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The Freight Transport Association is stepping up its case for compensation for livestock hauliers affected by the foot-and-mouth crisis as the haulage industry was left out of crucial government talks this week.
The FTA has fired off a letter to Transport Minister Lord Whitty after Prime Minister Tony Blair promised that he would talk to representatives of the tourism industry about the disease's effect on business— but excluded hauliers.
In his letter, FTA policy director James Hookharn said: "It is regrettable that neither the FTA nor the RHA has been invited to represent hauliers' views at the meeting, so I am writing to ask for your support in ensuring that these businesses are included in any assistance that the government may offer"
• The number of confirmed cases of foot and mouth was fast approaching 200 in the UK as CM went to press and
France has recorded the first outbreak of the disease on the Continent.
Between now and 27 March every truck leaving the UK must have its tyres disinfected, on pain of a £5,000 fine or three months' imprisonment.
The UK government has relaxed parts of the EU and UK drivers' hours rules for hauliers transporting animal feed and livestock or delivering to farms.