Minister praises CM
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nit MINISTER of Transport, who made the opening remarks at the conference, was last at a FMC in 1977, when he was Opposition spokesman for transport.
orman Fowler first of all ratulated lain Sherriff, editor of CM. and the journals on organising a stimulati g programme, and welcotlied the return of Sir Oa WI Pettit as chairman.
he Minister, reiterating thej Government's daterminatiofl to create a better envirönment for the creation of wealth, said taxes had already been cut and the Government was now reducing the size of the public Sectors which drained too many resources. He said it was important for the unions to realise that the only way for them to improve conditions for their members is to help them to produce more wealth.
The Government was determined to remove the hand of the State where it had no real purpose or proper role. It wanted to see fair competition in freight between operators and different modes of transport.
An objective solution to the problem of track costs must be sought by the Government and it had to ensure that there was no direct subsidy of freight. It had no business in road haulage, said the Minister. The Government would soon be introducing a Bill to reconstitute the National Freight Corporation with shares sold to the public, employees and staff. However, there would be no selling-off of separate parts, and the NFC could look to a secure future in the private sector.
Mr Fowler said he applauded the fact that representatives of the European Press were at the FMC. He was sorry that Europe still seemed to be thought of by the public as something apart. On the tachograph issue he reminded the FMC that his predecessor, Labour's William Rodgers, had accepted the European Court's ruling on Britain's legal requirement to introduce the tachograph and the Conservatives agreed with that attitude.
The Minister went on to say that he would like to see all haulage quota restrictions ended in the EEC, but there were substantial increases coming for Italy and France, and only recently he had successfully negotiated a better deal with West Germany (see News page 17).
There were genuine fears concerning increased lorry weights, he said, and Mr Fowler reminded the FMC that Sir Arthur Armitage is conducting an independent inquiry. No decision could be made until after he had been presented with that report.