Fuel escalator 'here to stay'
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by David Craik • The Government has told the Road Haulage Association that the "fuel escalator" policy will remain, despite a lobby by 200 RHA members of the House of Commons last week protesting it is paralysing the industry.
In a Commons debate led by Owen Paterson, MP for Shropshire North, RHA national chairman John Bridge and more than 20 hauliers in the Public Gallery heard from Patricia Hewitt, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, that "lorries must pay for the impact that they have on the environment".
In response to Paterson's pleas that one of the UK's strategic industries was "in crisis", Hewitt denied UK hauliers faced a heavier tax burden than those on the Continent. "UK hauliers have lower social costs and pay lower rates of corporation tax," said Hewitt. Paterson described Hewitt's response as "pathetic". He lambasted her for failing to answer him on his calls for a haulage delegation to meet Treasury officials, or to agree to freeze any further increases in Vehicle Excise Duty.
While the debate raged in the House, up to 200 RHA members peacefully marched on Downing Street, each carrying a placard calling for "Fair Play on Fuel".
RHA director-general Steven Norris thanked his members and said: "We need 60 MPs standing next to Owen Paterson next time." • Pat Jagger, of Shropshire and Border Counties Transport Association was happy with the turnout but doubted there was "much more mileage in pussyfooting around". Jagger says he would support a national "parking up day". John Lewis of John Lewis Haulage in mid-Wales says: "I and many others will be out of work in six months' time if we do nothing. This march is a waste of time. We need to park up for Four days." But Jim Jordan, also of the Shropshire and Border Counties Transport Association, says a mass parking up would not work as most hauliers "would not do He agrees with Norris that the way to carry the fight is to write and keep writing to MPs to hammer home the Facts of the problem.