Sugar beet jobs reprieved...until spring
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The threat of hundreds of job losses in sugar beet haulage has been temporarily lifted following intense lobbying in the UK and on the Continent.
A European Union proposal to cut beet production in member states to allow more cheap sugar imports from Third World countries would affect about 1,500 UK hauliers, according to British Sugar (BS).
But Chris Carter, director of agriculture for BS, says the idea has been deferred, at least until the spring. "Political lobbying has been very successful in raising the issue at the highest level in government," he adds. "We
have still got everything to play for— European and UK industries have to keep the pressure on."
Road Haulage Association chairman John Bridge says he received assurances from Roads Minister Lord Whitty last month that the quotas issue will be monitored. "Ministers believe they won't have the impact that we believe they will but at least they are aware of the issue and will consider any possible consequences, particularly on road transport," he says.
BS reports that the UK's sugar beet industry generates more than 600.000 haulage movements a year.