'Scottish industry penalized by Bill'
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THE Transport Bill would price many Scottish firms out of competition with those in the Midlands and South of England, warned the Transport and Communications Committee of the Scottish Council (Development and Industry), in Edinburgh last week.
"We believe that fresh thinking is needed on the Bill as it relates to road haulage", said Mr. Vivian C. Slight, secretary to the Committee. "Little regard has been given to the Government's concept of regional development. Scotland will undoubtedly be placed in a position of grave disadvantage due to greatly increased costs."
The Committee is concerned that the increase in costs for abnormal loads would fall disproportionately on remote development areas, offsetting the benefits of the regional employment premium and other measures designed to encourage industrial growth in the areas. In particular, the heavier and bulkier the raw materials or finished goods are, the sharper the effect is likely to be, according to the Committee.
"Many companies in Scotland will be badly hit if there is any general increase in transport charges which puts competitors in or around the main consumption areas in a stronger position", Mr. Slight added. "Yet this, in effect, is what will happen if the Transport Bill, in its present form, passes into law."
The Committee is seeking a meeting with the Minister of Transport to ask that Scotland be treated as a separate and singular area for the purposes of the Transport Bill. The proposed legislation would kill many Scottish industries by pricing them out of their markets, the Committee says.
A transformer or generating set manufactured in Scotland would cost, for transport to the South East of the UK, an additional £7,000, because of the Bill, as against £3,000 for a firm manufacturing in Manchester and only £500 if manufactured in London.
The Scottish view is that the Bill may have virtues but that it is being rushed through at an excessive speed.