RHA calls for clarity on fuel duty
The Road Haulage Association has called for greater clarity on the issue of road fuel duty from the major parties in the run-up to the general election.
“The Conservatives’ Fair Fuel Stabiliser is welcome, so far as it goes”, said RHA chief executive Geoff Dunning.
“Indeed, the RHA proposed plan to stabilise fuel prices and the SNP moved a similar amendment in Parliament before to Conservatives came up with their scheme in 2008. But we look to the Conservatives to be more open about the level at which it would want to set taxes.
“Labour is pretty clear. Chancellor Alistair Darling has raised duty by almost one penny per month for the past 16 months and has another three inflationary increases in the pipeline over the next year. Hugely unwelcome though these increases have been, it is far from clear that the Conservatives or Liberal Democrats would do anything other than continue to increase duty levels.
“UK diesel duty levels are by far the highest in Europe and result in British hauliers paying £12,000 or more per truck per year than many EU competitors. That gap is damaging our haulage industry, costing UK jobs, putting up costs for British business and increasing prices in the shops.
“Labour promised to narrow the diesel duty gap a decade ago but has done nothing since abandoning the Lorry Road User Charging Project as unworkable in 2005, after
spending almost £40 million in consultancy fees alone. Vague commitments from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats to bring in an LRUC Mark 2 do not inspire confidence and will at best take years to introduce.
“It is not good enough for the Opposition parties to focus solely on National Insurance contributions. Fuel duty is an important political issue for all road users and a vital one for the road haulage industry. Voters should have a clear idea where the major parties stand,” Geoff Dunning concluded.
Road Haulage Association – phone us first
For more details, contact RHA Head of Media Relations,
Kate Gibbs,
Tel: +44 (0) 1932 838917
Mob: + 44 (0) 7979 531451
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