The Freight Transport Association says that the Chancellor’s proposed 2p per litre fuel duty increase planned for October must be scrapped with immediate effect. Here. Here
FTA Director of Policy James Hookham said, ‘after everything that has happened, the Chancellor cannot seriously be thinking about adding to the fuel price burden by increasing the duty level. He must recognise the extent of this emergency right now. As a signal of understanding and goodwill, he should announce the scrapping of the 2p increase immediately.’
FTA, which represents companies operating over 220,000 lorries, almost half the national fleet, says that the bulk price of diesel has risen from 76p per litre 12 months ago to 106p per litre today, an increase of 40 per cent.
Hookham added, ‘Almost everything that we use or consume each day is the product of a lorry journey fuelled by diesel. The cost of those journeys continues to rise at a frightening rate. Sadly, at 50p per litre, the highest duty rate in Europe, the Chancellor takes a disproportionately high cut of that cost - far too much.’
FTA says that the problems for UK transport are increased by the large numbers of foreign vehicles coming into the country fuelled by cheaper continental diesel.
Further outrage was caused by the government’s recent decision not to introduce a charge on foreign vehicles using UK roads.
How on earth can UK companies compete against such blatant discrimination?
FemaleFirst - Jackie Violet