Lorry weight talks to be put off?
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Sir Alec tells EEC : this is a major political issue
from our Brussels correspondent
• Observers here believe that the EEC will postpone the Council of Ministers meeting scheduled for December 18 and 19, at which the contentious question of lorry weight and size limits is due to be discussed with a view to a final settlement. The question will then, it seems, be taken up quietly probably in the spring — when the political spotlight, both in Britain and the Community as a whole, has moved elsewhere.
The proposed limits do not come into force internationally until 1980, and 1985 domestically, so a delay of a few months will make little difference.
The strength of British feeling on the issue was made clear to Continental members on Monday when the Foreign Secretary, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, told his colleagues at a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers in Brussels, that the question of lorry weights had become a major political issue in the United Kingdom. The British Government .hoped it would not be faced with a unilateral decision by the Six on a matter where it was known to hold very strong views on the eve of the Community's enlargement.
The Foreign Secretary said Britain attached the highest importance to the enlargement taking place in a climate of harmony and consensus.
The Six are meanwhile working out new roposals which will probably be ransmitted to the British Government for tudy next week. They will be designed with he aim of enabling the three new members o accept the 11-tonne axle weight and 0-tonne overall limit agreed by the Six in ay.
The idea is that Britain, Ireland and Denmark would be allowed to retain their present limits for all domestic traffic and to restrict international traffic to routes they would designate themselves. In theory, the routes could be purely symbolic.
These proposals are unlikely to form a satisfactory basis for a compromise solution. Among the Six there is resistance to the idea of creating a virtually permanent exception to Community rules for certain member states. On the other hand the British would be unhappy with a purely temporary waiver which could create uncertainty for manufacturers and operators and result in economic discrimination against UK hauliers competing against Continentals for business in Europe.
The British plainly aim to reopen discussion on the proposed 11-tonne and 40-tonne limits, and there is very little likelihood of the Six creating a political crisis by imposing a solution less than 15 days before Britain becomes a full member. Even if the French pressed for a decision, it would probably be vetoed by Germany and Holland.
Commons debate report overleaf
EEC concession
• A six-month postponement — until
July 1 1973 has been allowed to the UK, Ireland and Denmark for the introduction of a common control document for shuttle (that is, regular express) and stage carriage services between member states. The present EEC members will introduce the document, which replaces the current licensing system. on January 1.