Are UK hauliers competing?
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by Guy Sheppard
The influential parliamentary Transport Select Committee is to investigate how effectively the UK haulage industry competes with its rivals on the Continent.
The impact of fuel and vehicle excise duties is among the issues to be explored by the all-party subcommittee of the Environment. Transport and Regional Affairs Committee. Gwyneth Dunwoody, who chairs the sub-committee, says: The committee as a whole thinks this is the moment to start investigating the road transport industry."
Although select committees are purely advisory, and have no power to change government policy, the transport committee is listened to by Governments. If the investigation finds that UK hauliers have been unfairly treated. ministers who will be called before the committee to give evidence would find it difficult to ignore its findings.
However, the investigation has evoked a mixed reaction from the haulage industry.
Paul Newton, chairman of the East Anglian Hauliers Group EAHG which highlighted the industry's difficulties to Dunwoody at a meeting in September, says: "I feel it may lead the way forward for the haulier."
But Clive Hampson. Midlands and western regional chairman of the Road Haulage Association, says: "We welcome any initiative from the government but a lot of them just get watered down and don't go anywhere at the end of the day."
The Freight Transport Association was more upbeat. A spokesman says: "It will be interesting to hear what the ministers tell the committee."
Apart from duties, the sub-committee will examine how regulations affect the industry's profitability and safety record, and where government road transport policies need to change to benefit the economy and the environment.
Newton says the EMIG will submit written evidence to the inquiry; this has to be in before 11 February. Any hauliers wishing to add to this submission should fax it to the EAHG on 01394 673216.
The findings of the transport subcommittee are likely to be published in the spring.