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A MEETING OF MINDS
Page 9
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Barry Proctor joins
colleagues from across the industry to go to Westi t tinster and explain the impact of the VVTD to a range of politicians...
I've just returned from a meeting with MPs of a variety of political hues and I have to say, they were, without exceptic considerate and helpful individuals. My normal response t government is between caution and allergy. But this time I, together with a group of other hauliers from across the cou organised by Staffordshire haulier Geoff Martin, felt compelled to travel to Westminster to talk over the Working Time Directive.
We want everyone to understand what effect the proposed legislation will have on our industry and ultimately every industry particularly the exclusion of self-employed drivers until 2 First, we met with the formidable Gwyneth Dunwoody, Labour chairwoman of the transport select committee. Sh, gave us invaluable advice and, we agreed, she's one of tlfew politicians who knows anything at all about transport.
Next up was Bill Wiggins, shadow secretary of state to Wales who also promised his support; and then to John Thurso, the Liberal Democrat transport secretary who ma, similar approving noises.
Finally we had an hour in the company of transport minister David Jamieson and one of his civil servants. I could practically see the civil servant thinking: "Here we g again, whingeing hauliers." But rather than just complainir our argument, eloquently put by Paul Frampton, was that as we act as unofficial tax collectors for the government, allowing owner-drivers to proliferate will just increase their administrative burden as they chase 80 individuals instea one firm. One mention of tax and their eyes lit up. I was al; able to correct the misapprehension that owner-drivers w benefit through undercutting us they won't have to, all th need do is stay still as our rates rocket up.
It was a highly productive meeting, but the proof will b the regulations they draft. We don't expect to be let off the until 2009, but an extra period of grace would be nice.
"The government wi its administrative bu allowing owner-driv proliferate..."