'echo regs to face torm—union MPs
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MATIONS to make tachographs compulsory in Britain promised a stormy reception this week after Transport ter William Rodgers announced in a written House of nons answer that Britain is to go ahead and introduce the 'anent.
d immediately a revolt n on the Labour back les, led by Transport and :ral Workers Unionred MPs and their antixilleagues.
ighley Labour MP Bob • said that the acceptance instrument represented t of power to the EEC and omised that the regulawould be given a stormy tion when they were laid e the House.
Rodgers' acceptance of nstrument follows the )ment of the European issued on February 7, found Britain guilty of implementing EEC ation 1463/70 — the rule.
: Mr Rodgers made it that his acceptance of egulation was "reluct He said that it was accepted when Britain acceded to the EEC under the Treaty of Rome and there was no subsequent attempt to renegotiate.
But Transport and General Workers Union Midlands chief Alan Law has already come out with a fierce reaction to the news. "No Government is going to force the lorry drivers of this country to have a tachograph against their will," he said.
He has been joined by TGWU MPs, who have mounted a campaign of dissent. Bryan Gould MP described the acceptance as "a humiliating climbdown"and he added that Britain was now left with a decision that neither the unions or the employers wanted.
And it has already been suggested that another drivers' strike could result from the acceptance of the court's decision — and this time it could be a total strike with the own-account drivers joining in because they, too, will be affected by the instrument.
But despite this, the Minister has said that he is to discuss with the unions, employers and the EEC Commission the prospects of getting a timetable for the introduction of the tacho.
When Britain first joined the EEC, we were given two years to implement the introduction of the instrument, so it is unlikely that the timetable will give us more than that period this time — and it could be much less.
First reaction from the EEC in Brussels has been one of relief that the decision by the British Government to accept the judgement has averted what might have been a constitutional crisis within the Community.