MPs examine foreign threat
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• by Melanie Hammond Competition from foreign hauliers on the back of steep UK fuel and vehicle taxes were the main issues flagged up by the Freight Transport Association (FTA) at last week's transport sub-committee on road haulage.
This was the second in a series of four hearings in which MPs from different political parties scrutinise the government's road haulage policies.
The FTA's deputy directorgeneral. Richard Turner, says he is pleased with the way the hearing was handled, and has "no doubt that this is a very influential committee seriously committed to the topic". However, he also spoke of his "personal disappointment" that the committee's report will not be available until after this week's Budget.
Turner told the committee that 3,500 foreign-plated vehicles were coming into Britain daily, and that 10% of the heaviest trucks on Britain's roads are foreign. He also stressed that of the 200 firms surveyed for the recent Lex Transfleet/ ETA report, a resounding majority said transport taxes were their main concern.
Committee chairman Gvryneth Dunwoody has asked for further details about haulage firms which have been forced to close, and about how many hauliers are losing business to foreign competitors. She has also asked to see approximate rates paid to Eastern European drivers. Also appearing before the committee last week were Exel Logistics, the Transport & General Workers' Union and the Federation of Small Businesses.