Meals a raw deal for M-way drivers
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• Mr John Golding, Labour MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme, who has been looking at motorway service stations, thinks lorry drivers are getting a raw deal.
But when he suggested various improvements in the Commons last week he did not get much encouragement from Mr Keith Speed, Under-Secretary DoE.
Mr Golding wanted Government action to reduce the cost of meals for lorry drivers at service stations, but this Mr Speed refused to do.
Mr Speed pointed out that prices to lorry drivers, like those charged to other customers, were a matter for the service area operators, within the requirement of their leases to supply meals and refreshments of good quality at reasonable prices. When Mr Golding put forward the idea of a committee of inquiry into refreshment facilities for lorry drivers on all types of roads, Mr Speed told him that this was one aspect of the review currently in hand of the facilities at motorway service areas. Mr Speed recalled that a public opinion survey had been held in May, and said that when the results were available he proposed to have discussions with the service area operators.
As for better overnight facilities for long-distance lorry drivers — when Mr Golding brought up this subject Mr Speed noted that they would be served by the proposed national network of long-distance lorry parks which would incorporate overnight accommodation.