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Page 11
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RHA blasts Chancellor for pushing ahead with fuel hikes
chrtst,pher.wattnnt'i31.17,:;,ro_uk
THE ROAD HAULAGE Association (RHA) has launched an attack on Chancellor Alistair Darling ahead of the first of four planned fuel duty hikes.
On 1 April, duty on fuel will rise by 1% above the rate of inflation, followed by further increases scheduled to take place each year from now until 2013, or the equivalent of 2.5p/litre.
The RHA says this will translate into an additional £1,100 per year in running costs, per vehicle.
Geoff Dunning.chief executive of the RHA, says: "Of course we understand that in 2 order to regain economic stability, some sacrifices have to be made, but it seems unfair that the UK haulage industry the one sector on which the rest of UK plc is
so dependent, should he the one to have its throat cut in this way."
He adds: "We need a Chancellor who is prepared to listen to and help this industry. Not one who seems hellbent on driving it off the road completely."
A spokesman from the Treasury says the tax rises arc an important part of the government's plans to reduce the country's deficit following the recession.
He adds: "The government acted decisively to ,tipport the economy during the downturn; and it has set out the action it will take to halve the deficit over four years once recovery is secured.
"Alongside other tax measures and slower spending growth, fuel duty increases are an important part of its deficit-reduction plan, as well as supporting the government's environmental agenda," the spokesman reveals.