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Scottish VPs discuss the industry's future
Page 7
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THE ROAD HAULAGE ASSOCIATION has praised a debate held in the Scottish parliament on the future of the Scottish road haulage industry, despite MSPs being outnumbered by the operators in the visitors' gallery.
There were just 21 MSPs present outof a total of 129, watched by 23 operators.
The debate on the Local Government and Transport Committee's report on the freight industry in Scotland prompted by intensive pressure from the RHA lasted for two hours; operators then lobbied MSPs including transport minister Tavish Scott.
'Fopics covered included infrastructure (including the replacement of the Forth Road Bridge). fuel costs and foreign competition.
Pat Glancey. regional manager
at the RHA. says: "I think there was a full and frank discussion. Under the circumstances a two-hour debate is good.We have put our case forward and now we have got to keep it goingit is only the beginning."
However, the committee is sticking to its guns over certain issues; not least that of foreign penetration into the domestic market which it does not view as a problem.
Committee convener Bristow Muldoon (Lab) told the Parliament:"There is only 5% of foreign penetration into the market which means that domestic hauliers have a 95% share. Most other industries would regard this as a healthy situation." But he called for further research into the effect of this competition on smaller hauliers.
Scott said he did share the industry's concerns on this, but would be focusing on enforcement: They should operate on a level playing field and be subjected to the same high standards as our own industry." He plans to work with Transport Scotland and Vosa on targeted enforcement.