HC Deb 04 December 1974 vol 882 cc1536-7
7. Mr. Spence

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he is making in obtaining from the EEC a sufficiently large allocation of permits for British international road hauliers; and if he will make a statement.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Neil Carmichael)

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend said when the House debated this subject on 28th November.

Mr. Spence

I thank the Minister for that reply. He will be aware that I have a constituency interest in this matter. What progress is being made with regard to the separate national permits to try to restore the 12½ per cent. cut made by Italy in the early part of this year? Second, does the hon. Gentleman consider that the permit system is being used as a means of artificially curtailing British exports to the Community?

Mr. Carmichael

The hon. Gentleman should realise that the permit system is a relatively small part of the traffic between Britain and Europe, although it allows a certain amount of "tramping" within European countries. But 95 per cent. of the traffic going to Europe by lorry goes on bilateral permits, which is much more suitable in many ways for many of the hauliers in this country.

Mr. Dykes

Does not the hon. Gentleman agree that although these permits are a small proportion they are a very important beginning to what will develop in the future? Does he realise that that is why many hon. Members on this side think that the number of permits allocated is modest and that we should not be treated like the smaller countries in the Community, rather than Germany, France and Italy?

Mr. Carmichael

Of course we are certainly aware of the importance of the permits. When we first joined the Community we had only 7 per cent. of the total but my right hon. Friend last June managed to get this increased by 75 per cent. and we are now getting a much bigger proportion of the Community permits. More steps are being taken and we are hoping to get at least another 20 per cent. increase. This is a continuing process of trying to get more permits and freedom for British hauliers to take our goods abroad.

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