Tipper storm brews
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ONE OF THE leading operators in the coal tipper convoys in the miners' strike faces a prosecution, and an MP last week accused the company's drivers of having broken the law on a more general basis.
The company, Strathaven, Lanarkshire-based Yuill and Dodds, organised coal and ore convoys from the Hunterston terminal in Ayrshire to the Ravenscraig steel works, crossing miners' picket lines.
Now, it faces a prosecution against one of its vehicles, Scottish Solicitor General Peter Fraser revealed in the House of Commons last week.
His comments came last week after Labour MP George Foulkes repeated his claim that Yuill and Dodds had won the contract to carry coal for the South of Scotland Electricity Board by a "dubious procedure" (CM, March 23). He was urged to repeat the comment outside the Commons, where he is not bound by Parliamentary privilege, and not only promised to do so, but went on to claim that there had been selective administration of law and order during the miners' strike.
"None of the cowboy coal convoys were convicted of speeding or dangerous driving, despite evidence submitted that those offences were taking place," he said. And he alleged that Yuill and Dodds' lorries were "careering across the roads of Strathclyde, breaking them up and breaking the law."
Mr Fraser, in pointing out that one prosecution was being brought against the company, accused Mr Foulkes of wanting the prosecuting system to be used for political purposes.
However, Mr Foulkes's claim was backed by another Labour MP, John Maxton, who said it was clear during the miners' strike that the lorry drivers operating in and out of RavensCraig were acting clearly in the belief that they could do so outside the traffic law.