§ Mr. Freemanasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has made any representations to the French transport authorities seeking the introduction of special transit permits for heavy goods vehicles proceeding to other countries, particularly Spain and Italy; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerBritish hauliers need a permit to transit France under the provisions of the agreement concluded in 1969. The number of permits made available by the French authorities each year falls short of our requirements and we are pressing the French to remove the restrictions on both bilateral and transit traffic. We are also campaigning within the European Community for measures to liberalise international road haulage, in accordance with the recent judgment of the European Court of Justice.