Minister's view of 'minimum restrictions
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THE BRITISH Government las always sought "to impose minimum restrictions on British hauliers both at home md abroad." This definition of aovernment policy towards road transport was given last week by Mr Neil Carmichael, Linder-Secretary at the DoE.
Speaking at a conference in London, he went on : "Our emphasis has been on safety and environmental control, leaving hauliers free to under take their operations with minimum Government interference.
"The UK has always sought liberal agreements requiring neither permits nor quotas. Each year we try to negotiate increases in quotas and emphasise our view that they are an unnecessary barrier to the free movement of goods."
Mr Carmichael took as his theme the importance of coordination on planning trans port policy. He said that the Government encouraged the movement of goods by rail where it was sensible on economic, social and environmental grounds. A system of grants encouraged industry to send goods by rail that otherwise might have gone by road. He revealed that about 50 companies were now discussing new schemes with British Rail or Freightliners.