Marking time best way to Market progress, says FTA director
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• "Next year — before we join the EEC — will be crucial to the sort of transport policy that the UK is to enjoy for the next decade," Mr H. R. Featherstone, FTA director, told the Association's Manchester area on Wednesday evening. After a long period of lying dormant, Common Market transport policy was boiling up to the point of decision. If those decisions were taken before the accession of the UK in 1973, there was probability of a highly regulated system embracing great control — capacity control, transport managers' licences, tachographs, permits and quotas — the complete opposite to the liberal approach enshrined in the Transport Act 1968.
During the period before accession the UK would have a voice in the consultative arrangement agreed with the Six, but no vote, whereas afterwards we would have the real power to influence the course of events.
We had therefore, said Mr Featherstone, to hope that traditional disagreements within the Six would hold up decisions until 1973 or later. Paradoxically, the way to real progress was through a period of marking time.