French could beat Scots
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• French potatoes could be sold in London at a lower price than the Scottish product if the Transport Bill is passed (writes lain Sherrill). Reason: the "wear and tear" tax would so increase road haulage prices that it would become cheaper to import from France than transport the home product 500 miles. This was disclosed this week by Dr. M. M. Shepherd, of Blairgowrie.
And it is estimated that haulage costs from the pulp mill at Fort William would rise by 20 per cent—a real threat to its viability. The L15m mill, in operation for three years, is not served by suitable rail facilities. It has already been suggested that pulp and paper could be more cheaply obtained from Europe if haulage prices do increase.
Another firm with a road-to-rail switch problem is Henry Buglass, of Berwick. which distributes lobster, salmon and scampi. The firm states that BR has failed to deliver many consignments on time, and the firm has to stand any loss.
And the House of Commons was told this week of one Aberdeen firm which spends about £18,000 a year on the transport, mostly by road, of large and overhanging commodities unsuitable for carriage by containers or by railway. Mr. Hector Hughes (Labour, Aberdeen North) pointed out that the present provisions in the Transport Bill would damage this type of employment.
The reply of Mr. John Morris, Parliamentary Secretary to the MoT, was that Mrs. Castle had agreed to consider whether —and if so, how—the effects of the charge on firms in development areas could be mitigated.