Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Cargo chief blasts ‘archaic system’
TV chef’s BBC primetime quiz ratings go off the boil
TIME and money is being wasted chasing unnecessary paperwork for businesses exporting from Northern Ireland to the EU, a cargo firm said.
Belfast Port and Northern Irish hauliers are losing out because of red tape associated with duties which do not need to be paid, Quay Cargo Services FRUSTRATED claim. The firm is based in Belfast and traditionally organised exports to the continent using the Great Britain land bridge.
Since the end of the postbrexit transition period it has routed shipments using the more costly route via the Republic then direct to France.
Manager Gary Stewart said to move a trailer from Belfast to Paris via GB would require a bond issued to protect the authorities against non-payment of duties, requiring the necessary documents.
All these documents need to be original copies, which are issued from registered addresses.
On entering France, the same bond and documents need to be discharged at a customs office, or by an agent who is registered to be able to do that.
No duties are ultimately payable. Mr Stewart said: “This archaic system, is designed to protect against outstanding duties/taxes.
“But there are no duties collectable, even if the cargo were to remain in GB, so why is the road haulage industry being asked to do this?”
GORDON Ramsay’s new BBC primetime quiz show may have had its chips – after a disastrous drop in ratings. Gordon Ramsay’s Bank Balance first aired on Wednesday with 2.7 million viewers tuning in.
But this figure had slumped to 1.6 million by Friday.
BBC bosses have taken a huge gamble with the 10-part show, putting it on in the prime 9pm slot for three nights a week. Despite the falling ratings BBC insiders insist the 54-year-old chef appeals to younger audiences.
A source at a rival broadcaster said: “Even if they wanted to stick Ramsay in an earlier slot their hands are tied because of the swearing.
“You can’t be impressed with those numbers for 9pm on BBC1.”
Last Wednesday, ITV’S 5pm show The Chase, with Bradley Walsh, pulled in 4.4 million while Danny Dyer’s The Wall on the BBC, netted around 4 million. Mirror critic Ian Hyland said:
“Apart from the prize money and the – yawn – swearing, everything about Ramsay’s vanity projectile screams daytime graveyard slot. “Yet somehow it has been afforded a plum prime-time slot.” The biggest complaint about Gordon’s shows was that the format was far too complicated.
In the show, players answer questions to earn blocks to stack on a balancing board.