§ Mr. Wallerasked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied with the availability of Austrian road haulage permits, in the light of recent increases in the quotas for France, West Germany and Italy.
§ Mr. FowlerI am pleased to be able to say that following successful negotiations at a recent United Kingdom-Austrian Joint Committee the quota of to 3,950 from the 1979 figure of 3,700. This, together with a drop in demand for transit journeys following the reduction in road haulage to the Middle East, will enable us to lift current restrictions on the issue of permits for Austria, at least for the remainder of this year. Austrian permits will now be available on demand to all British hauliers authorised to transit West Germany, either by road or by road/rail services. The joint committee will meet again in the autumn to discuss the quota for 1981.