WIDE AWAKE AT THE DTp
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EUROCRAT bashing is a sport in which venom traditionally plays a bigger part than accuracy. But Dave Allen's letter (CM, February 1) is not only wrong in several important matters of fact; it is also internally inconsistent.
He opposes harmonisation. He then goes on to list (not always accurately) several ways in which British hauliers suffer in comparison with their foreign counterparts. He ignores, but presumably would not deny, the reciprocal complaints of many foreign hauliers at our low weight limits, and their feeling that our enforcement unfairly concentrates on them. How does he think that these difficulties can be resolved except by harmonisation?
He seems to think that this means swallowing the policies and practices of other member states lock, stock and bartel. This ignores a major British success in fundamentally changing EEC transport policy, Two examples demonstrate this.
When we joined in 1973 we faced restrictive pioposals including restoration of capacity control and compulsory tarrifs; today liberalisation is the order of the day. He complained at restrictive drivers' hours Regulations; from next September these will be greatly eased.
Until retiring from the DTp four years ago I spent 10 years making weekly visits to Brussels. So I know from personal experience that these results arc not easily achieved. On the contrary they require prodigious efforts over long periods.
The results arc often compromises which do not suit everyone in every detail. Since 12 independent countries are involved this is inevitable. But they are better than 12 individual sets of rules.
Dave Allen suggests that my former colleague at the DTp should wake up. On the evidence of his letter they are much wider awake than he is.
Reg Dawson
West London