ETA is not impressed
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• Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott was greeted by an undercurrent of jeers and laughter when he spoke at the Freight Transport Association's annual dinner last Monday Members of the 800strong audience reacted badly when Prescott started to talk about air and waterway freight. When he finally got round to addressing the problems hauliers are now facing he mentioned that the Government is looking at 44 tonnes and prioritised truck lanes in a bid to ease congestion. "I believe the British industry is competitive overall compared to haulage companies abroad," he said. "I do not intend to trade figures with you. But when I hear people threatening to flag out en masse, you know that while we pay more for diesel and road tax, conti nental com panies pay far more in corporation tax and labour costs."
Road Haulage Association national chairman John Bridge and directorgeneral Steven Norris both said this was the worst speech they had ever heard from Prescott.