§ 9. Mr. Gareth Thomas (Clwyd, West)When he last discussed the problems facing the road haulage industry with representatives of the industry. [82788]
§ The Minister of Transport (Dr. John Reid)I frequently meet the road haulage industry associations. For instance, on 27 April, I met a number of individual hauliers and held informal talks with the director-general and president of the Freight Transport Association. On the same day, I met the director-general of the Road Haulage Association. I very much look forward to meeting the industry tonight as the guest of honour at the Road Haulage Association dinner.
§ Mr. ThomasMay I express support for my right hon. Friend's policy of promoting dialogue with the industry, rather than the confrontation pursued by certain groups within the industry, not to mention by the Conservative party? However, does he accept that the significant increases in fuel duty have imposed burdens, particularly on smaller road hauliers in more remote areas; including the successful company in my constituency, L. E. Jones International? Does he take those concerns to heart, and will he redress that problem?
§ Dr. ReidOne of the reasons why we have established the road haulage forum is to address issues such as those raised by my hon. Friend. We will be looking at all issues, particularly competitiveness and matters affecting it. As far as his support for dialogue rather than disruption is concerned, I fully support that, and I hope very much that that is shared by everyone attending tonight's dinner.
§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield)If the Minister met representatives of the road haulage industry in my constituency—I have some big road haulage companies which operate not only nationally, but internationally—one of the road projects that they would like to see included in a roads programme would be the Poynton bypass—[Interruption.]
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. We are dealing with road haulage matters. I know that the hon. Gentleman tried to get in on an earlier question, and was not successful.
§ Mr. WintertonThe question refers to
the problems facing the road haulage industryone of which is the problem of inadequate roads. In that particular area, there are grave problems with the road infrastructure, not least because the second runway at Manchester airport is shortly to be opened—[Interruption.]
§ Madam SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman is Chairman of the Procedure Committee, so I think that he knows better than that. Would the Minister like to answer about the road in that area, and not get on to Manchester airport?
§ Dr. ReidI am deeply grateful to the hon. Gentleman for preparing me with that information for the Road 109 Haulage Association dinner that I shall attend later tonight, for any future aviation dinners and for any Conservative association dinners in his constituency.
§ Mr. Derek Wyatt (Sittingbourne and Sheppey)Will my right hon. Friend also take into consideration hauliers in Kent, particularly in north and east Kent, who are suffering from the cheap costs of fuel in France? Will he give some thought to the fact that Customs and Excise has the right to charge fuel duty as drivers come into this country? Where is he with the current discussions with road hauliers?
§ Dr. ReidThe first meeting of the road haulage forum took place on Thursday 8 April. The Freight Transport Association said that it was
very impressed and encouraged by the will, intent and urgency of the Forum to get to grips with our industry's problems without delay.Further meetings of officials were held last Friday; more will take place this week and next week. I expect the next meeting of the forum to take place as soon as it is practicable, probably towards the end of this month, so we are addressing the issues seriously. We do take the industry's representations very seriously, but we have said that there is over-capacity in the industry.It is doubtful whether all the industry's ills can be laid at the door of one or two particular aspects, but we take them all seriously and we will continue our fruitful discussions with the industry. I hope that the whole road haulage industry will accept that dialogue is the fruitful way forward—as everyone else agrees—rather than disruption and inflicting yet more punishment and inconvenience on the general public.
§ Mr. Bernard Jenkin (North Essex)It has been a privilege to serve under my right hon. Friend the Member for South-West Norfolk (Mrs. Shephard)—may I get that in first? May I also point out how welcome it is that the right hon. Gentleman has given up misusing the KPMG report on these occasions?
Following the Secretary of State's pitiful performance at the Freight Transport Association dinner last month, may I welcome the fact that it is the Minister of Transport who will be addressing the Road Haulage Association dinner this evening, not the Secretary of State? However, if the Minister wants dialogue and not disruption, will he tell the House what the road haulage forum is meant to achieve? Why the delay? When is the next meeting and what is the agenda?
§ Dr. ReidMay I say in reciprocation that it is a great honour and privilege to serve under my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister? With all due respect to the right hon. Member for South-West Norfolk (Mrs. Shephard), I think that I have gained more from that experience than the hon. Gentleman has from his.
On the road haulage industry, two formal meetings of the forum, three meetings of officials, a separate meeting with the Freight Transport Association, plus another meeting 10 days ago with the Road Haulage Association—all in a period of six weeks—can be called many things, but it can hardly be called sluggish. The hon. Gentleman knows fine and well what is being discussed at the forum. We are covering the range of issues that the 110 hauliers themselves wish to raise to ascertain the facts pertaining to the competitiveness of the industry, and those factors that influence it.
We have made it plain that we are not going to unpick political decisions that have already been made because a gun is held to our head. The forum is part of the continuation of discussions that we have with road hauliers and the Freight Transport Association, but we have made it equally plain that, if we can come to some agreement on the facts of the case, that will be useful in informing the future decisions of all parties.