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Afotorf Does someone in the Industry deserve a pat on the back, or a dressing down. Drop us a line at Commercial Motor, Room 11203, Quadrant Douse, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS or fax us an 0181652 8969. Alternatively you can e-mail us on Milesibignall@rhi.co.uk.
FUELLING THE ARGUMENT I am at the moment catching up with a small backlog of reading. Naturally this includes CM. However, I am confused.
Not many weeks ago you were supporting the haulage industry in its battle with Gordon Brown over the increase in fuel duty. A good job you were making of it too. You deserved every support.
Then what appears to be a chink in your armour. I refer to "Truckfest". Heavens knows how many vehicles arrived at the East of England showground between trucks and saloons. How much fuel they consumed is anyone's guess and the cost of it must have been enormous.
All that expenditure, and for what? Did it advance your campaign? Did it sell one more copy of CAP Did it sell one
more truck? I am sure that somewhere there is an answer.
The only beneficiary I can think of would be the promoter, Live Promotions. The damage has been done for this year. Let us hope that Gordon Brown has been too busy to pick up this slip.
There is still time. I hope it is not too late to rectify things for next year before another fuel increase is introduced.
Oh yes, it's already planned. I havejust been advised by HM Customs and Excise in the following terms.
The continuing commitment to the road fuel escalator (meaning that duties will be increased on average by at least 6% each year in real terms) is part of the Government's poky to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and recognises the environmental and other costs attached to road use. Road transport is the fastest-growing source of carbon dioxide emissions..."
Stand by to be clobbered again next spring. lain Shem•Iff, Joyden's Wood, Kent.