Compelling evidence from hauliers at the always-exciting Lords EU Internal Market Sub-Committee. FTA say say officials at Dept of Transport of doing a 'valiant' job but relation are 'tense & difficult'
That's because those officials realise that in event of no deal 'the plans they are preparing would probably not make a significant difference to the almost virtual collapse of trade across the channel' because of unavailability of permits.
'The critical path in this has been trying to persuade ministers of the reality of that scenario.'
RHA: 'We have just over 100 working days to go. We are not prepared. We are nowhere near prepared. Our industry is not prepared, the European industry is not prepared. No-one is ready to roll with this.' Without a transition 'there will be chaos.'
If industry ends up having to operate on ECMT permits 'we estimates shortfall for UK operators of 95%'
Small haulier, who specialises in transporting exhibition materials, & band tours across Europe is frightened by prospect of a permit system in no deal as 'the big guys, DHL, TNT will probably get first look for food supplies & medicines..we will be at the bottom of the tree'
'Nobody seems to know a damn thing. We are supposed to be transporting to exhibitions in Milan in June. I don't know if I will be able to do it.'
This is background on the permits issues rha.uk.net/getmedia/b795d…
ECMT can definitely be used in no-deal but it's a 1950s system and there aren't many of those permits. Can't start formal talks with individual states on bilateral permits because of context of wider EU-UK negotiation. Some bilateral arrangements would need new legislation.
Industry would like a pan-EU permit system...which is basically what we have now with the Community Licence system.
Who might gain from disruption of trade? Small haulier suggests continental EU car industry at expense of UK industry.
On to the future of cabotage in a deal situation: (Cabotage is the transport of goods between two places in the same country by a transport operator from another country.) RHA say there is 'no appetite' in other EU countries for UK to have continuing cabotage after Brexit.
Any upside on diverging from EU rules? FTA suggest they wouldn't want diminution of standards but could simplify administration eg. the way in which the working time directives interacts with drivers hours rules. Makes point that a lot of EU standards were driven by UK.
Long digression with SMMT on type approvals for cars. They have 'some temporary assurance' but long term picture is not clear. If there has to be two type approval tests (EU & UK) then for some lower volume models it not be economical to put them in UK market
Back on the search for sunlit uplands - SMMT say 'really, really hard to see anything in short to medium term that will benefit the industry.'
RHA say maybe some limited upside in reduced competition from cabotage. But that's about it.
RHA again emphasising they don't want to stop Brexit or have stipulate any particular arrangements - just want the promise of frictionless trade to be fulfilled.
FTA say haulage industry is rest of the EU is about 6 to 9 months behind UK thinking because for a long time they viewed Brexit is an aberration which wouldn't actually happen.
FTA also warns there are politicians in EU (including Ireland) who are as 'obsessed and precious' about the European project as some UK politicians are about the project of leaving the EU. So economic considerations won't necessarily be paramount.
No onto passenger transport with Confederation of Passenger Transport & Translink, the Northern Ireland public transport operator.
Translink say still some clarity needed on issue of operator licensing & cabotage for their cross border services in result of no deal.
CPT say Brexit being reflected in contracts for holiday trips after March - basically if companies have to cancel they'll refund you but won't pay compensation. (One Lord notes he had a very uncomfortable coach trip to a skiing holiday)
Translink say that without the community licence it will be difficult. Could join the Intebus agreement - but it doesn't cover regular services or cabotage.
Translink have 70 cross-border services, don't just cross they border they 'meander back and forth' the chief exec explains.
This explains Interbus eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/…
Lord Whitty has been doing his research, revealing he spent an hour and a half in Victoria coach station last week.
Another complexity raised by Translink is whether UK accession to Interbus agreement would then need further legislation at Stormont as road transport is a devolved matter.
Sunlit uplands? CPT have 3 things. Amend rules on some driving time regulations, reduced certification requirements for people who are only doing local schoolbus services, allow bus companies to be reimbursed for concessionary fare losses.
Translink just think any divergence will bring about cost and administration issues for all cross border operations.
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