§ 23. Mr. PlaskittTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he last met representatives of the road haulage industry to discuss prospects for the industry; and if he will make a statement. [78837]
§ Dr. ReidI refer my hon. Friend to the reply 1 gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Castle Point (Mrs. Butler). We had a very constructive first meeting of the Road Haulage Forum on Thursday 8 March.
§ Mrs. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when he last met representatives of the road haulage industry; and if he will make a statement.[78921]
§ Dr. ReidI chaired a very constructive, long and in—depth first meeting of the Road Haulage Forum on Thursday 8 April. Together with my noble Friend the Under-Secretary and my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, I met representatives of the Freight Transport association, the Road Haulage Association and the Transport and General Workers Union.
We are going to jointly examine, in the shortest period of time, the state of the competitiveness of the haulage industry and take external independent views where necessary to inform our discussions. We will take into account the influencing factors, with a view to looking at potential solutions.
52WIn addition, we will look at a range of other issues, for example, offering special assistance to small haulage businesses.
I hope that all hauliers will now agree that dialogue, not disruption, is the way forward.