• The first Road Haulage Forum since the general election
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took place last week, without one of its key ministers. However, all sides are playing down the absence of Transport Minister John Spellar, who was called away for negotiations concerning the London Underground, citing the presence of three other ministers.
All those present, including representatives from the Road Haulage and Freight Transport Associations, describe the meeting as positive. The forum reviewed the way in which the 2100m allocated to haulage in last years Budget will be spent • 1.30m will go towards retrofitting particulate traps or doing gas conversions on older vehicles with funds administered by the Energy Saving Trust ( CM29 March-4 April): • 23m for enforcement (CM5-12 April); • 215m for advice on fuel efficiency starting in November; • 25m for training ( CM3-9 May): • 22m for an industry-run self-help "modernisation operator scheme with a pilot programme starting in the West Midlands in August (CM5-11 July).
RHA national chairman Bob Russett, himself a first-timer at the forum, is encouraged by the broad agreement on many key points. Junior Transport Minister David Jamieson agrees: "It was a cordial and agreeable meeting... it was interesting to see how much accord there was on a number of issues."
• For details of the modernisation operator scheme contact Julian Richardson at the FTA on 01892 552244 or Mike Farmer at the RHA on 0117 950 3800.