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Peyton won't be bullied by French interests
Page 54
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from our Parliamentary correspondent • Mr John Peyton, the Minister for Transport Industries, was warned on Wednesday that the Government's ability to look after British interests in the Common Market would be judged on the result of his fight against heavier lorries.
This forecast was made in the Commons by Opposition front bench spokesman Mr Fred Mulley, when the Minister was questioned about his European discussion.
Mr Peyton refused to prophesy the outcome of the talks. It was, he said, not possible to make any further forecasts before the next meeting of the Council of Ministers before Christmas.
But, he added, he could not believe that the Council would really wish to come to a decision on what seemed to him to be rather an unsatisfactory compromise just a few days before Britain gained full membership.
Mr Edward Taylor (Tory, Glasgow Cathcart) expressed delight in the fight that Mr Peyton was putting up, but leading Labour anti-Marketeer, Mr Douglas Jay, urged the Minister to say there and then that he would in no circumstances accept a proposal for heavier lorries.
There were loud cries from MPs when Mr Peyton replied that he would hate to satisfyopinion now, only to disappoint people later.
He would, however, do his best to sustain a case he believed to be right. But it was a little difficult at the moment when three countries did not have a full vote until January 1.
Mr Peyton denied a suggestion from Mr David Clark (Labour, Colne Valley) that he would be bullied by French commercial interests into accepting 40-tonne lorries. He did not think it was much to do with French commercial interests.
Heavy commercial vehicles played a very important part in the economy of this country and, therefore, in the lives of ordinary people. They had enormous advantages as well as disadvantages.