Improved deal expected for island hauliers 8/2/12
Island hauliers are expected to receive an improved deal to reduce the impact of large charges when the road equivalent tariff (RET) scheme is withdrawn from lorries at the end of March.
Representatives from the Western Isles road transport sector were told that there was no chance of retaining the present RET system for large commercial vehicles.
A delegation of hauliers met with Transport Minister Keith Brown in Edinburgh yesterday.
It was pressed upon Mr Brown that only a couple or so haulage firms may benefit from rebates of up to 25% under a new discount scheme while smaller operators risk getting nothing.
Mr Brown stressed that reduced funding from Westminster had forced the Scottish Government’s hand and it was not possible to extend RET to all routes in a fair manner. Concern that some hauliers had not passed on the benefit from RET down the line was another factor.
He pledged to look again at the proposed commercial traffic fares discount in view of fears that dramatic fare rises would affect the local economy.
Former MSP Alasdair Morrison and Storas Uibhist chairman Angus Macmillan were among five people tried to gain access to the scheduled meeting despite being warned days ago that they were not on the delegation list. They refused a later meeting with the transport minister.
In a joint statement, SNP MSP Alasdair Allan and MP Angus MacNeil said the meeting had been “productive” and that they were confident that the minister understood the concerns of companies on the islands.
They said the minister discussed RET, rising costs of fuel, VAT and insurance costs facing hauliers where the Westminster government are not doing enough to help, and what steps could be taken to reduce the impact of moving away from RET for hauliers and other companies using lorries..
They said “This was a useful and productive meeting and the Minister listened carefully
to the communities' concerns, which were very clearly put. The Scottish Government
is investing £5 million in RET for non-
“The Transport Minister was clear as he has been throughout, that his view is that the budget cannot sustain RET for haulage to the islands, but he has agreed to come back with proposals to address the companies’ concerns and we very much welcome that move.
“Businesses and communities have faced rising fuel, VAT and insurance costs and we made that clear to the minister.
“There were ideas put forward tonight including larger discounts, steps to ensure smaller hauliers do not lose out to larger hauliers and a clear commitment from the minister that he wants to see a fair system of ferry fares in the future.
“We are confident that when the minister comes back to us he will have taken on board our concerns and we will see a system that takes account of the interests of the community.”