ROBERTSON HAILS IMMEDIATE RELAXATION OF EU RULES AFTER EMERGENCY APPEAL

ROBERTSON HAILS IMMEDIATE RELAXATION OF EU RULES AFTER EMERGENCY APPEAL

SNP CALLS SECURE DEROGATION FOR DELIVERIES TO ALL UK AIRPORTS

SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP has welcomed news the Department of Transport has agreed to a temporary, and limited, emergency relaxation of the enforcement of EU drivers’ hours and working-time rules for those hauliers involved in the distribution of de-icer products direct to airports across the UK.

This temporary relaxation of enforcement follows an urgent appeal by the Moray MP and applies immediately and will run until 23:59 Monday 11 January 2010 and will apply only to those drivers involved in the distribution of de-icer products direct to airports.

Mr Robertson was this morning contacted by Ballindalloch based haulage firm A&F Grant who needed to secure a temporary exemption from the rules if they are to get a crucial delivery of anti-freeze to airports across the Highland’s and Islands. The airports – at Inverness, Aberdeen, Sumburgh, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Benbecula and Kinloss - could have closed without the emergency exemption and could have grounded the air ambulance fleet.

Mr Robertson said:

“This is excellent news which will allow these essential deliveries to continue to airports right across the UK. Its great news for hauliers as well as holiday makers and airport users who faced disruption and danger without this action. Although it is a temporary relaxation we will need to consider whether it should be continued beyond Monday subject to the weather conditions, and I am pleased that the Department of Transport have committed to being flexible on this.

“We are experiencing extreme and exceptional weather conditions and I was determined that everything possible was done to emergency exemption so that these crucial deliveries can continue.