Fuel Tax: Chancellor's Promise
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QTRONG arguments in favour of a I-) cut in the bus fuel tax were put to Mr. Heathcoat Amory, Chancellor of the Exchequer, when he received a deputation of Conservative M.P.s last week. After hearing their views he promised to give "sympathetic and serious consideration" to the problem. The deputation, representing the Conservatives' Agriculture and Transport Committees. put particular emphasis on the rapid decline in rural bus services which, they suggested, was accelerating the drift from the land. They also referred to the plight of elderly or infirm people who were compelled to keep within walking distance of their homes unless. they had cars.
It was claimed that the present system of taxation was chaotic and out of date.
The deputation submitted that if it were accepted that the nation could not afford to dispense with good bus services in rural areas, the case for reducing the tax -of 2s. 6d. a gallon on fuel became Wong.. The manufacture of small vehicles might' also be encouraged by reviewing purchase tax and licence duties.
Suggestions for easing the rural transport situation ire to bp put before several other Ministers. Many M.P.s think there should be more co-ordination between bus services, school transport, the British Transport CoMmission and G.P.O. mail services,