WESTM NSTER HAUL
Page 7
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FOR A MOMENT it seemed that history was being recalled and rewritten.
But it is to be hoped that any lorry driver in the Strangers' Gallery at the House of Lords didn't rush out and destroy his spy in the cab the moment he heard that the Government wanted some commercial vehicles to be operated without a tachograph.
After all, a moment's reflection would have told him that a Government which goes along with some, if not all, of the European regulations can't be expected tc reject its rules just like that.
And indeed, had that impetuous drivel stayed seated for just a few minutes long& he would have learned that he still has tc live and work with the tacho. Unless, that is he spends his working day on a factory sitf or with a road construction unit.
It was only these short-distance drivers who hardly ever venture out on the oper road, who are to be exempted from &if European Community Tachograph Regula tions. And, as is only to be expected, the will have to pay a price for that freedom.
They will not be able to travel at speed greater than 30km/h which, translated i English, works out at about 18mph.
As the Earl of Avon explained when h introduced these speed limits the Goverr ment intends to impose, this was the onl way in which these drivers could escape th tachograph rules.
He was not entirely happy that this had t be done. The long term answer, he sai( was to sort out the regulations.
But, observed Lord Avon — and was ther a sigh in his voice? — reviews took tim and our history of non-compliance wi. these particular Community obligations lc us in a less than ideal position from which • seek changes.
So, in the short term the Government chosen this quick and practical approa( which would bring these particular vehicli into the exempted category.
"A very small price to pay in order remove the requirement of having to fit tachograph," ventured the noble Lord, ar no one seemed inclined to disagree wi him.
Certainly not the unions, the manufacti ers and the others who had been consult — nor the Opposition, in the shape of Lo Strabolgi.
Had that lorry driver still been there would have heard the Labour peer exprf sing gratitude and support for Lord Avon the civilised manner which is the hallrm of proceedings in the Upper House.
Whether the freight man would LI echoed those sentiments is open for disci sion.