David Green Freight Transport Association David Green, director general of
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the Freight Transport Association records a week to remember—Marrakesh, Tunbridge Wells and the FTA's annual dinner.
Saturday 25 April The final day of the IRU Congress in Marrakesh. As president of the IRU, it's busy: a briefing at 07:00hrs and key discussions on the IRU tactics in the working time negotiations with the unions. Preside over the closing sessions of congress, hold a working lunch with members of the Moroccan Government and oversee the signing of the IRU Declaration of Marrakesh. Just time for TV interviews before dinner. Bed at 02:00hrs.
Sunday 26 April Have to get up at 04:45hrs for the flight—get home at 17:00hrs. Waiting for me are my FTA papers for the next two days—how thoughtful of my secretary Denise!
Monday 27 April In my office at 07:15hrs to attack the pile of letters and telephone messages. Hold the weekly meeting of FTA executive directors where we review the implications of RTITB calling in administrators, receive reports on the marketing initiative for FTA Insurance Services and gather the latest intelligence regarding the forthcoming White Paper. In the afternoon receive a presentation on the further computerisation of FTA's Vehicle Inspection Service (planned completion in June). Rendezvous with FTA president Lawrence Christensen before the annual dinner at the London Hilton. A late night.
Tuesday 28 April An important day for the FTA starting at 08:00hrs with a short briefing on national council policy issues. At the AGM, council determines FTA viewpoints on impounding, working time and European rail freight policy. Norman Fowler provides the opposition view on transport, but there's not much the Tories can do, given the Government's majority. Get home at 19:00hrs and make phone calls to Brussels, Geneva and Moscow on Russian customs problems.
Wednesday 29 April In the office at 07:30hrs to catch up, followed by my quarterly meeting with senior FTA staff. Financial performance for the first three months is better than budget and we hear that our new member advice centre is going well. Later in the day, hold the monthly meeting with our external political advisers—this concentrates on the White Paper, planning for the party political conferences and my meeting with the Treasury on fuel taxes. John Prescott tells me he will be our principal guest at next year's dinner and a late call from Martin Marmy, IRU secretary general, indicates I might have to go to Moscow next week to resolve the problem with the Russians.
Thursday 30 April Another 07:00hrs start. Visit the CM editorial team at Sutton, various meetings and City of London Lecture in the evening—Neil Kinnock reviews the EU's transport priorities—good that he emphasises the initiative, led by the FTA, on the adoption of best practice. He tells me the Council of Transport Ministers meeting in Chester the previous weekend went well. Get home at 23:15hrs.
Friday 1 May Reports of a threatened French driver blockade during the World Cup sends our press spokesman Geoff Dossetter into action! Discuss with colleague Owen Thomas the tactics for his Brussels meeting on working time and make plans for visit to FTA by Dutch transport representatives. Hold meetings on urban access and review the preparatory papers for the FTA management board meeting. A quiet (1 1 -hour) day!
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