Tax Campaign Starts
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THE pre-Budget campaign to persuade the Chancellor to lighten fuel tax started on Wednesday in the Commons. First, Mr. G. B. H. Currie (Ulster Unionist, Downe North) asked Mr. Edward du Cann (unsuccessfully) if the Chancellor would reduce fuel tax for passenger and freight transport vehicles so as to make industry more competitive. 1 he Earl of Dalkeith got an even shorter answer-" No "-when he sought a reduction for Scotland.
Mr. Maudling himself was no more forthcoming. He said he "would consider " representations received from the Joint Fuel Tax Committee for the Passenger Road Transport Industry and individual undertakings.
Mr. Frank Allaun (Labour, Salford East) asked him to bear in mind that "although slashing the tax on motorcars the Government have, in contrast, raised the tax on fuel for buses, which are the poor man's motorcar, by 3d. a gallon to the figure of 2s. 9d. a gallon ". Was not this unfair, asked Mr. Albin), and would it not worsen the existing car congestion on the roads? The Chancellor said he would certainly take that point into account.