No agreement on weight!
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-but EEC Ministers fix
higher quotas from our Brussels CO DESPITE a complete failure to make any progress on a common transport policy — including a stalemate on the vital axle weights issue — EEC Ministers of Transport, meeting here last week, did fix a significant increase in the permit quota for the UK. As predicted in CM last week, the Ministers spent little time on the weights issue and referred a decision on a common transport policy to their next meeting, hopefully after the UK has held a referendum on the Common Market issue.
The British attitude on weights was summed up after the lengthy meeting by Mr Fred Mu!ley, Minister for Transport, who told correspondents: "I don't know how many times I have to say this but I am not in favour of heavier lorries. The Italians asked for the questions of weights and dimensions to be included on the agenda. Conversation on the subject lasted for about three minutes and that is how. interested they were."
Mr M ulley was more satisfied with his success in obtaining an all-round general increase of 20 per cent in Community quotas, although informed sources said Britain had been hoping for a 50 per cent increase. The quota system, which has been extended by a year, now allows the UK 272 quotas.
The Community quota only covers about five per cent of total European journeys by goods vehicles-the majority are done either on a bilateral basis or with complete freedom, With the substantial increase granted in June and the final out come of last week's meeting our quota will have increased by 110 per cent in the 12 months ending in June next year. Mr Mulley said that this situation was "quite satisfactory."
The bracket tariff system has been prolonged for a further year.
Liberalization
The Commission proposal for a draft Council directive for the liberalization of combined rail and road transport was passed. The regulation will last until the end of 1978 and will be reviewed before the end of 1977, although it does not come into effect until next October.
. The UK Government has been in favour of this all along; although it does not directly affect Britain. It is, however, relevant to British international hauliers w are making use of tht road-rail facilities on t Continent.
Restrictions on the pern system for use of t "kangarou" system ha been removed. Mr Mull said during the press cont.( ence that the system wou help the Governmen policy to get more ro. traffic diverted to rail.
The Nine failed to agr on tax exemptions on fuel the tanks of commerc; vehicles. The proposal und consideration was increase the maximu quantity of fuel which exempt from 50 to 100 litrt The Germans refused accept the new limit, sayii that it was a taxation n transport matter. The matt does not affect entry to ti UK, which allows 400 litr duty free.