CBI adds weight to the heavy lor
Page 3
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HE INDUSTRY's campaign for heavier lorries has been given a tammoth boost by the Confederation of British Industry's decision ) put its weight behind the Government's White Paper proposals. LAN MILLAR reports.
It is to mount a series of lobbyig meetings with small groups
MPs, backing up efforts allady made by the Freight ransport Association and Road aulage Association. And key meches by CBI directors and lice bearers will include referices to the benefits of the 3avier lorry.
Last week, CBI director genal Sir Terence Beckett told the 31 council: "Along with the rA, the RHA, and many indi dual members, we have talked irselves hoarse with backmch MPs, trying to explain the ist benefits to industry and pmmerce, and to persuade em that 40 tonnes on five axles )es less damage to the roads an 32.5 tonnes on four.
"We implore MPs on all sides the House to approve new relations which we expect to )me before the Commons portly," he added.
Those regulations are much ss likely to be presented before ister, as was once thought p05le, but Government sources iggest that the final, comproise proposals, which have still be approved by the Cabinet, lould appear no later than ay.
Apart from the ever-thorny oblem of persuading sceptical mservatives that some inease is better than none, the wernment's momentum has 'en hindered by the mini-reuffle which brought two new nior Ministers into the Departant of Transport. Heavier !ors are part of Reginald Eyre's sponsibility, and he is still beming acquainted with the ler points of the arguments.
No one will yet say what the mpromise proposals will be, hough word around Marsham reet is that we have seen all 3 counter measures which the )vernment is prepared to
throw into the cocktail. The rumoured demise of the 34and 40-tonners is still a hot favourite.
The CBI, which helped win the industry's case last year for a cut in dery duty, has become alarmed by its members' view that the full facts are not getting across to influential MPs. It accepts that the arguments on the issue are understood by few, but is determined to approach as many MPs as possible, probably in small groups, over the next few weeks.
These meetings will be conducted with high-level directors of the CBI present, including Sir Terence and some of the three deputy directors general, and further lobbying will be carried out at grass roots level by the CBI's regional offices.
Indeed, although the CBI is unwilling to admit to having a set of priorities for action at present, it would not be unfair to suggest that the issue of heavier lorries comes high in its current programme of action.