MP calls for
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slow progress
MANY people would not mind if gross vehicle weights were increased slightly, because it would not make any difference, said Mr Les Huckfield (Labour, Nuneaton) in the Commons last week.
The MP, who was asking about negotiations with Europe, added that the British quota in regard to international operations should be increased and progress on the tachograph and drivers' hours should be as slow as possible.
Mr Kenneth Marks, UnderSecretary DoE, agreed wholeheartedly about tachographs and drivers' hours. As for Community operators' permits, at present the United Kingdom received 272 out of a total of 2,363 permits in the Community as a whole. The figure of 272 represented less than five per cent of our international road haulage activity, observed Mr Marks.
Mr David Steel (Liberal, Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles) pointed out that there was one area in which we lagged behind the Community—in our failure to allow heavy goods vehicle licences to be given to drivers who wore contact lenses.
Mr Marks noted Mr Steel's comments, and promised to write to him on the subject.
Tory transport spokesman Mr Norman Fowler forecast that the regulations on drivers' hours would add massively to the costs of the road haulage industry and would knock out many roads and bus services. He asked Mr Marks to confirm that the aim was to achieve not a deferment of the Regulations but a change.
Mr Marks replied that the Regulations had been accepted when the Conservative Government brought in the European Communities Bill.