Scots are on the edge
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10 The Scottish road haulage industry could be wiped out within 10 years because of taxes and a strong pound, a Tory MSP claimed last week.
Murray Tosh. the Scottish Conservative spokesman on transport and the environment, was speaking after a meeting with The Road Haulage Association and Scottish hauliers.
Tosh, regional MSP for the South of Scotland, also called for all parties in the Scottish Parliament to join together on the issue. But he warned that Chancellor Gordon Brown holds the key to the problem.
"We have so little direct remit [to change the government policy] but we have asked for more information on some issues and will try to highlight these things." he added.
Regional RHA director Phil Flanders spoke to 22 MSPs from all the main parties. "We gave them information on fuel, VD, pollution, flagging out and the effects of foreign competition," he says. "The MSPs were very concerned and asked us to provide them with further details, so we've now got our work cut out to do this."
The hauliers at the meeting were Aberdeen-based Dyce Carrier, East Lothianbased David Andrew and Larkhall-based Sandy McCracken &Son.