Fowler on the attack
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DEFENDING the recent Conservative Party Transport Policy Paper, The Right Track against CM's accusation that it says nothing new and will do little to aid the British road transport industry, shadow transport minister Norman Fowler has hit back in a strongly worded letter to the Editor.
Extracts from the letter read as follows: "In particular Commercial Motor criticised the absence of a section dealing with European issues like EEC Drivers' Hours and Distances. Allow me to say that Commercial Motor cannot have it both ways.
Only two weeks previously, I had spoken at the Commercial Motor Conference in London where I was described as being "outspoken" on the subject of drivers' hours and distances. I emphasise that this was your description not mine.
Let me remind you of what was said in the last debate there was in the House of Commons on this subject earlier this year. The Government put down a Motion to take note of the regulations. • The Opposition put down an Amendment calling upon the Government to ensure that: "Less restrictive provisions should apply for national transport than for intra-community transport."
On this occasion I said: "There is no scope for disputing the fact that these rules, if applied, would have a totally damaging effect on our bus and coach industry.
"They would increase costs and therefore put up prices and fares. Services would have to be reduced and the deficit of passenger transport operators would be made worse.
"It is for these reasons that the proposals are opposed in one way or another by the Road Haulage Association, the Freight Transport Association, the Confederation of Passenger Transport and the Transport and General Workers' Union."
On the effect on the bus industry I said: "Some of the greatest difficulties are faced by the bus and coach industry. Britain still has the highest level of bus patronage in Europe. Both on the basis of the total number of journeys and per head of population.
"In Britain, there are about 8 million passenger journeys by stage carriage bus services a year, compared with 6 million in West Germany.
"It follows, therefore, that any regulations of this sort will have a greater effect in Britain than elsewhere."
On the effect on the road haulage industry, I made it clear that: "The Freight Transpo: Association estimates thi the additional cost will t between £350 million ar £450 million a year.
"Another effect would I the complete reorganisatic of the freight distributic industry in this country."
During the debate emphasised that it was our ai to strengthen tl Government's negatiatil hand and to make if absolute clear to our Common Marli partners how serious would the effect of such changes.
Clearly we would ha preferred the solution we p forward but on Governme assurances that they wet seek as long a transitior period as possible withdrew our Amendment while making it clear that wanted an early debate on t result of the negotiations. T we will press for wh Parliament resumes.
So make no mistake abc it that we are dee] concerned about the effect the European regulations. ' will continue to seek to give much help as an Opposit can to the transport industi and the associatic representing those industrii On the permits questi for example, we would like see much greater scope to the British idustry and will fight for that.
Over the next weeks will be making furt statements on this and other European issues — that I suggest is the ri course.