Haulage lifeline: Clarke
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JUNIOR Transport Minister Kenneth Clarke said last week that a healthy distribution industry is vital to Britain's economic recovery and "if road haulage is to be in a position to play its part in that recovery, the industry must invest".
Speaking in Rugby at the opening of TLT Distribution's £1.5m centre, Mr Clarke said: "The Government's main objective remains the control of inflation. The rate of inflation has fallen, but we cannot yet relax our efforts. That means that all sectort of the community still have to shoulder the burden of stabilising prices — and the freight transport industry has had to accept increases in vehicle exise duty and tax on diesel fuel.
"This will increase transport costs — and make it more important than ever to make the most efficient use of transport resources. But increases in taxes have allowed the Government to reduce interest rates. This will help industry to make the necessary investment to take advantage of the upturn:" On the advisability of raising C1,180m through fuel tax and £225m by increasing vehicle excise duty, Mr Clarke said it was the quickest and most practical way for the Government to obtain large sums of money.
CLOCKS go forward one hour or Sunday night (March 29) wher summer time t. gin5. throughout the EEC.