Dll launches 1992 drive
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• The Government has launched'a publicity drive to alert hauliers and other businessmen to the changes that will follow the introduction of the European single market in 1992.
Trade Secretary Lord Young says the "Open for Business" campaign aims to make 90% of bosses aware of the "opportunities and challenge the single market represents", and to encourage them to plan for 1992.
Booklets and a telephone hotline are available (01 200 1992), backed up by an extensive TV and radio advertising campaign. The DTI says that liberalising transport services has a central place in completing the single market, but warns that many obstacles must be overcome before operators will have a genuine single market.
Nonetheless, Young disputes that Britain's tax rates for road hauliers must be brought down to the levels of our European partners: it is not necessary to harmonise taxation on commercial vehicles to achieve a single market, he says.
The Road Haulage Association disagrees, claiming that there can be no further liberalisation of the market until there is closer uniformity in vehicle and fuel taxes, and in the other factors which affect competition between hauliers from different member states.
The Freight Transport Asso ciation welcomes the Govern ment's campaign: "We have been trying to spread this message for two years. British operators have the best expertise in the world and many firms are already treating Europe as a home market. The FTA will make sure things don't get bogged down in Brussels and we will be keeping issues like 40 tonnes to the forefront," it says.