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| MPs warning over haulage industry | MPs warning over haulage industry |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Ministers must do more to help British hauliers compete against lorry drivers from the Continent, MPs have warned. | |
| A Transport Select Committee report says UK haulage firms are paying thousands of pounds more in fuel than their European counterparts. | |
| Committee chairman Louise Ellman said that the government should not be a "helpless bystander" but instead should address high taxes on fuel. | Committee chairman Louise Ellman said that the government should not be a "helpless bystander" but instead should address high taxes on fuel. |
| But the Department for Transport insisted that it was not complacent. | But the Department for Transport insisted that it was not complacent. |
| 'Wealth gap' | 'Wealth gap' |
| The report said that the government was too slow to help road hauliers, who it said transported 70% of all UK freight. | The report said that the government was too slow to help road hauliers, who it said transported 70% of all UK freight. |
| It calls on ministers to produce a clear plan which is good for both the environment and the industry. | It calls on ministers to produce a clear plan which is good for both the environment and the industry. |
| It is now urgent for the government to produce an environmentally-aware and business-friendly freight strategy Louise Ellman MP | It is now urgent for the government to produce an environmentally-aware and business-friendly freight strategy Louise Ellman MP |
| Additionally, it argues that goods containers should be shipped directly to the north of England rather than going through Felixstowe, Suffolk. | Additionally, it argues that goods containers should be shipped directly to the north of England rather than going through Felixstowe, Suffolk. |
| If regional ports were used instead, the MPs said, billions of tonnes of freight would be removed from the roads - reducing congestion and pollution. | If regional ports were used instead, the MPs said, billions of tonnes of freight would be removed from the roads - reducing congestion and pollution. |
| "The government has embraced the idea that, if the freight industry is left entirely to the market, a system resulting in the perfect, most efficient transportation of freight will emerge," Ms Ellman said. | "The government has embraced the idea that, if the freight industry is left entirely to the market, a system resulting in the perfect, most efficient transportation of freight will emerge," Ms Ellman said. |
| "However, that approach ignores other priorities, such as regional regeneration, employment, the wealth gap and the environment. | "However, that approach ignores other priorities, such as regional regeneration, employment, the wealth gap and the environment. |
| "It is now urgent for the government to produce an environmentally-aware and business-friendly freight strategy that assists the national and regional economies." | "It is now urgent for the government to produce an environmentally-aware and business-friendly freight strategy that assists the national and regional economies." |
| The Department of Transport said that it was looking at ways of getting more freight off the roads. | The Department of Transport said that it was looking at ways of getting more freight off the roads. |