No reprieve from Chancellor:
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RNA warns of militant action
Chancellor Gordon Brown has once again "kicked hauliers in the teeth" despite offering almost every other section of UK business a host of measures to make them more competitive.
Despite press speculation that he would announce an essential-user rebate for the haulage industry, his best offer was a commitment to end auto matic fuel duty rises at each March Budget. Making his third pre-Budget statement on Tuesday lB Nov I. Brown told a packed House of Commons that in future all fuel duty rises will be determined on a Budget-by-Budget basis, and all the extra money raised will be spent on public transport and roads.
Brown admitted that the fuel duty escalator. which forced rises of 6% plus inflation each year. has turned the nation's finances around. But he failed to address the issue of competitiveness between UK hauliers and their foreign counterparts—our hauliers will continue to pay the highest diesel prices in Europe.
Road Haulage Association chairman John Bridge immediately slammed the announcement as a 'disaster". accusing Brown of kicking hauliers in the teeth.
"There was no indication anywhere that the government has recognised the plight of the haulage industry," he said. -The Chancellor has chosen to ignore us:' And he warned that hauliers, frustrated by the lack of action from government, might take a more militant approach in future.
However, the Freight Transport
Association welcomed what it sees as the abandoning of the fuel duty escalator "in clear recognition of our campaign". Director-general David Green said the campaign will continue to ensure that -fuel duties do not rise above inflation".
• The RHA plans to step up its regional demonstrations. The next one will take place on 20 November near the M6/M42 Junction in Birmingham.