§ Mr. GunnellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what estimate the Government made, prior to its announcement, of the effect of the increase in diesel fuel duty announced in the Budget statement on employment in the road haulage industry; and what estimate he has made of levels of employment in the industry over the next six months; [89650]
(2) what is his estimate of the number of jobs lost in the British road haulage industry since the recent increase in the diesel fuel duty. [89649]
§ Mrs. LiddellThe Government closely monitor the level of employment in the road haulage industry through the Labour Force Survey and the Annual Employers Survey. The statistics for the spring quarter of 1999 will not be ready for release until 14 July. However, the figures for goods vehicles drivers do not show a significant change between end-1997 and end-1998.