Fuel costs rise again
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• Following the announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of a 10 per cent surcharge on duty for petroleum products, leading oil companies have announced that the wholesale prices of motor spirit and diesel fuel are increased by 4.7d per gallon and recommended retail prices are increased by 4id per gallon.
The recommended retail prices for diesel fuel as marketed, for example, by the Shell Group in the four zones of the UK are now as follows: Central and Inner, 6s 3d per gallon; Outer, 6s 3id; General, as 4d.
The TRTA reacted to the news of the duty increase with the statement: "Although the road transport industry accepts that it should bear its fair share of the contribution to the general exchequer, today's increase, taken with the others imposed on the industry over the past four years, goes far beyond that point."
Increased costs to the industry, according to the association's calculations, would be in the region of £38m a year.
The RHA, however, reckoned the increase to be somewhat more than £33m per year and in view of other substantial increases in costs over the last 12 months, it commented, the new imposition would have to be passed on to the customer immediately and ultimately to the general public, Mr. Dennis Quin. secretary of the PV0A. while applauding the Chancellor's decision to exempt bus fuel from the increase, felt that the time had come to review the distinction between buses and other expresstype services. "Even hired coaches are performing a public service and these tax burdens act unfairly against them."