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RHA accuses the Scots of passing the buck
Page 14
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The Scottish Executive's "disappointing" response to an inquiry into road haulage has come under attack from the RHA. Guy Sheppard reports.
A HAULAGE LEADER is accusing the Scottish Executive of using a get-out clause' to avoid issues raised by an inquiry into the state of road haulage.
The Road Haulage Association warns that the industry could end up suffering the same fate as Scotland's shipbuilding and heavy engineering sectors.
An RHA petition sent to the Scottish Parliament highlighting the industry's problems prompted an inquiry that resulted in a string of recommendations. But the Executive's response to these recommendations is described as "disappointing" by RHA regional director Phil Flanders.
He says a get-out clause, which effectively passes the buck to the UK government. is used far too frequently.And he is scathing about the way the Executive claims the issue of foreign competition may be good for the economy because it 'reduces distribution costs'.
-Lower distribution costs are a benefit." he says. "Unfortunately, Scottish hauliers won't be able to deliver these benefits because they aren't given the chance.
"I'm sure that all hauliers based in this country and paying through the nose for fuel would love to have the chance to benefit businesses, consumers and the economy. He says the attitude adopted by the Executive may inadvertently solve the problem of driver shortages because there will be fewer Scottish hauliers to employ them: -We understand and support competition. But it must be fair. At present, the Executive seems to condone unfair competition."
• Contaetwvvwscottish.parliame nt.uk/business/committees/Ig/ reports-06/SE_response_FItpdf