Association reveals loss for 1999
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The Road Haulage Association's finances have taken a serious knock, with the organisation revealing another loss of more than £500,000 during 1999.
Figures published last week reveal a post-tax deficit last year of just over £584,000. But despite its size, this represents a significant improvement on the previous year's deficit of £684,000.
During 1999 staff costs declined by £12 5,0 I) 0 and overall adntn
istrative costs remained the same, but at the same time the association's income from conferences and seminars fell by £245,000.
On a brighter note the income from membership subscriptions rose to £2.1m with 9,716 members on the books.
The RHA's finances plunged deep into the red for the first time in 1998 under the then director-general Steven Norris.
According to the Milt's recently appointed chief executive Roger King, steps have already been taken to reverse the organisation's finances—an office in Westminster opened for Norris has been closed since his departure, for instance.
"We've already introduced a number of measures that have resulted in cost sayings and at the same time we have set some tough targets to maximise our income," King adds. "Four months into the year we are very satisfied that we are on target to reverse our recent deficit."
• 1 he Annual General Meeting will be held on 25 May in central London. would be inappropriate to act before that time."
However. King expects RHA members to continue lobbying their MPs using the updated Fair Play on Fuel 2000 document . He is optimistic about the outcome of the Select Committee's report because the MPs have listened to a wide range of people and King believes they will present it as a factual report without any spin.
At the very least it will tell the government the industry is still facing difficulties," he adds.
Last month the Transport Select Committee, an independent body made up of crossparty MPs and chaired by Crewe MP Gwyneth Dunwoody, heard representations from the main transport lobby groups including the RHA, the Freight Transport Association, the Transport & General Workers Orion and large operators such as Eddie Stobart.
It will present a report to the commons on the state of the haulage industry in June or July.