RHA: Hauliers should get fuel tax rebate
Date: 05 October 2007
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The Road Haulage Association (RHA) believes that the government should give a rebate to freight haulage drivers to compensate for the recent hike in fuel duty.
This week the price of fuel went up by 2p per litre, meaning that foreign hauliers have an even greater advantage over their UK counterparts in terms of fuel cost. Diesel bought on the continent is far cheaper than at Britain's pumps.
Gordon Brown recently told a group of business leaders that he wants the UK to lead the world in terms of the economy, but RHA chief executive Roger King said the fuel tax hike meant this would be harder to achieve.
"We certainly lead the world in hitting transport where it hurts - fuel bills," he said.
Fuel costs are the biggest variable factor for logistics firms and high diesel bills can break a small company.
"Of course if you are a foreign haulier operating in the UK this is great news," Mr King continued.
"Fuelled with cheap continental fuel, accessing our roads for nothing perhaps this is the competitiveness the prime minister is referring to?
"In our declaration delivered to the chancellor last Friday we asked for this 2p per litre plus next April's 2p per litre plus next March's 1.8p per litre duty increase to be rebated to UK hauliers."
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