Memorandum submitted by Roger Warnes (Transport)
Ltd (O70)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
My business delivers approx 350,000 tonnes of
sugar beet into three sugar factories in East Anglia and 2,000
tonnes of organic sugar beet into the sugar factory in Nottinghamshire.
I have built up my haulage business around Sugar Beet haulage
over the last 33 years delivering sugar beet Sept-March, I also
deliver sugar beet co-products from this industry 12 months of
the year. I now operate 33 lorries, seven cleaner/loader teams,
and a fully staffed work shop, I am directly employing 30 people
and supporting many more from the supply trade (tyres, fuel, parts
etc) in my local rural area. I believe Option 1 is the only realistic
option as this would result in a stable market, allowing efficient
industries to survive in the long-term. Option 2 would mean very
significant reductions in price and would have a very significant
impact on my business, this will ultimately lead into Option 3.
Option 3 would result in the UK sugar industry being uncompetitive
and stopping production, consequently without sugar beet my business
would no longer be viable. Sugar Beet haulage in East Anglia is
essential for the efficient working of agricultural haulage in
the region, it integrates very well with many other agricultural
commodities keeping many haulage business's in this rural region
viable.
1.1 My business operates in the heart of
rural Norfolk giving direct employment to many people and many
more indirectly through mutual supply trades. I also employ a
number of drivers on a part-time, many of these drivers are involved
in agriculture and this additional income enables them to stay
in agriculture.
1.2 Sugar Beet haulage integrates very well
with other bulk commodity haulage, this allows me to minimise
empty return journeys and therefore non productive road miles.
1.3 The food miles covered with sugar beet
are minimal (average 30 miles) compared with many other bulk commodities
and certainly far less than importing sugar from Brazil or Australia.
1.4 I am also involved in the haulage of
recycled co-products from the sugar industry which are environmentally
friendly.
1.5 The efficiency of the whole industry
has increased dramatically over the last 30 years, on farm yields
have doubled, the UK processor is the most efficient in the EU
and with increased GVW and the operation of large haulage groups
beet transport has also become a very efficient cost effective
operation.
1.6 Other factors that need to be considered
are:
1.6.1 The UK industry supports over 20,000
jobs, many in rural areas like East Anglia.
1.6.2 The UK does not contribute to EU quota
surplus.
1.6.3 The UK is a major importer of sugar
from lesser developed countries.
1.6.4 Sugar Beet plays a vital role in crop
rotation on many farms.
1.6.5 Sugar Beet is a spring sown crop, giving
many environmental benefits on farm.
1 April 2004
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