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LET'S MOVE ON
Page 10
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The failure of the LRUC last week showed up many things. One was just how far a government scheme can proceed without a proper analysis of the figures. Another was that the needs of the transport industry — in this case a differentiation between CV taxation and car tax, and for foreign hauliers to contribute towards the cost of UK roads —would once again be hijacked and then abandoned to fit political whim.
It is difficult to distinguish between incompetence and cynicism in this latest government escapade. Four years invested to no purpose: four years of promises which held the transport industry at bay; promises to the trade associations of early fuel rebates in return for their continued support of the LRUC. Promises which were broken and replaced with nothing.
And what of the trade associations? Did they forget that their primary loyalty is to their members and not Whitehall? Did they really think there was merit in trading on a close governmental relationship to shape something which had long passed the point of usefulness? Where is that relationship now? It was probably unilateral at best, and what little trust the FTA and RHA believed they could put in their ministerial buddies has surely been shattered. Their anger is understandable, but had they fought harder and less equivocally for what the industry needed, perhaps they would still have the respect of government and their members.
Meanwhile this industry desperately needs fairer taxation and to share the cost with foreign rivals. At CMwe have revisited several ideas that are fair, simple and balanced: vignettes for foreign drivers; an essential user rebate; distance charging based on tachograph analysis... Let us not wait around for this government or the next to spend 20 years debating whether it is practical to give you what you need. Tell us what you would like to see happen. CMwill publish ideas and invite experts to analyse and assess them. We plan to host a round-table discussion on how to achieve a fair taxation system for road haulage. This industry has the expertise, the experience, and the motivation.., and now you have a forum. Let the debate begin.
What little trust the FTA and RHA put in their ministerial buddies is surely shattered"