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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Driver hours curbs to be relaxed | Driver hours curbs to be relaxed |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Rules which restrict lorry drivers' operating hours are to be relaxed to help cope with the aftermath of the foot-and-mouth outbreak. | Rules which restrict lorry drivers' operating hours are to be relaxed to help cope with the aftermath of the foot-and-mouth outbreak. |
| The move by UK ministers, following pressure from Scotland's SNP government, aims to help tackle the backlog of animals needing moved. | The move by UK ministers, following pressure from Scotland's SNP government, aims to help tackle the backlog of animals needing moved. |
| Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond had warned of a looming animal welfare crisis as a result of control measures. | Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond had warned of a looming animal welfare crisis as a result of control measures. |
| The changes will mean a daily driving limit of 10 hours instead of nine. | The changes will mean a daily driving limit of 10 hours instead of nine. |
| The weekly rest period will move to 24 hours instead of 45, and the weekly and fortnightly driving time limits, currently 56 and 90 hours, will be lifted. | The weekly rest period will move to 24 hours instead of 45, and the weekly and fortnightly driving time limits, currently 56 and 90 hours, will be lifted. |
| The UK Government has finally recognised that this is not a 'short-term local problem', as they originally said Richard LochheadScottish rural affairs secretary | The UK Government has finally recognised that this is not a 'short-term local problem', as they originally said Richard LochheadScottish rural affairs secretary |
| The EU drivers' rules will be relaxed for a month by Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly, with the changes coming into force when livestock movements are eased later this week. | The EU drivers' rules will be relaxed for a month by Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly, with the changes coming into force when livestock movements are eased later this week. |
| The new rules will apply to drivers involved in transporting cattle, pigs, sheep and lambs - increasing operating hours by a third over a fortnight - and will apply across Britain in areas outside the foot-and-mouth disease risk area. | The new rules will apply to drivers involved in transporting cattle, pigs, sheep and lambs - increasing operating hours by a third over a fortnight - and will apply across Britain in areas outside the foot-and-mouth disease risk area. |
| The SNP administration said that, without action, thousands of sheep could have starved on the Scottish hills. | The SNP administration said that, without action, thousands of sheep could have starved on the Scottish hills. |
| Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "At long last, the UK Government has recognised the scale of the crisis facing Scotland's livestock sector and the need for hauliers to have this concession to allow them to get moving again and deal with the backlog of livestock. | Scottish Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "At long last, the UK Government has recognised the scale of the crisis facing Scotland's livestock sector and the need for hauliers to have this concession to allow them to get moving again and deal with the backlog of livestock. |
| "It is very frustrating that it has taken us weeks of negotiation to get this modest concession but we are grateful that the UK Government has finally recognised that this is not a 'short-term local problem', as they originally said, but a crisis which is not of our farmers' own making." | "It is very frustrating that it has taken us weeks of negotiation to get this modest concession but we are grateful that the UK Government has finally recognised that this is not a 'short-term local problem', as they originally said, but a crisis which is not of our farmers' own making." |
| Risks assessed | |
| Andy Robertson, chief executive of the National Farmers Union in Scotland, said it should not have taken the UK Government as long to address the issue as it did. | Andy Robertson, chief executive of the National Farmers Union in Scotland, said it should not have taken the UK Government as long to address the issue as it did. |
| "It has taken a concerted campaign by the Scottish Government, NFUS, hauliers and others, including personal interventions by the cabinet secretary Richard Lochhead and First Minister Alex Salmond to finally get this much needed relaxation from London," he said. | "It has taken a concerted campaign by the Scottish Government, NFUS, hauliers and others, including personal interventions by the cabinet secretary Richard Lochhead and First Minister Alex Salmond to finally get this much needed relaxation from London," he said. |
| A spokesman for Mr Salmond said Ms Kelly had now agreed the benefits of "a limited relaxation" of EU drivers hours rules far outweighed any increased road safety risk. | A spokesman for Mr Salmond said Ms Kelly had now agreed the benefits of "a limited relaxation" of EU drivers hours rules far outweighed any increased road safety risk. |
| Sarah Boyack, the rural affairs spokeswoman for Labour, said she had been pressing for action on relaxing driver hours. | |
| Ms Boyack said: "Labour is determined that our rural communities can get back on their feet as quickly as possible. This is a helpful step in that process." | |
| Scottish Conservative rural affairs spokesman John Scott said: "At long last the UK Government has responded to the reasonable request from hauliers and the livestock industry for a temporary relaxation of drivers' hours." |