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On your bike, Tebbit

21st May 1983, Page 5
21st May 1983
Page 5
Page 5, 21st May 1983 — On your bike, Tebbit
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UESTS at the Road Haulage Association's annual dinner in Lonon last week were treated to the unlikely sound of Employment ecretary Norman Tebbit being booed during his speech, writes the ews editor.

The cries of disagreement ame when Mr Tebbit turned -om a largely well received elecon-geared speech to say that le Budget tax changes were ood news for transport perators. Some 315,000 ehicles' excise duty rates were ut.

He won back applause when e said the Government was repared to review tax rates. Mr Tebbit said the Governlent had been brave to press head with its implementation f the gross weight increase to 8 tonnes, and told hauliers that .s task would have been much asier had the industry been as well organised as those groups which opposed the increase. Transport Secretary David Howell, meanwhile, has written to RHA chairman Harold Russett to clarify the Government's stated intentions on tax rates for heavier lorries.

Mr Russell has been reported as saying that the Government intends to increase the rate for 32.5-tonners by 28 per cent before the next Budget. Mr Howell says there are no plans either for this year or for the 1984 Budget at this stage.

But Mr Howell has left his options open by saying: "On a strict allocation of road costs, the increase in the vehicle excise duty rate of four-axle 32.5-tonners would have had to be very substantial indeed to bring it above the rate for five-axle 38tanners, which are less damaging."