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EEC trying to force road-rail switch by 'insidious' taxation
Page 21
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by CM reporter
SWINGEING increases in vehicle taxation in a bid to switch freight from road to rail are threatened by a proposal "insidiously working its way through the Brussels system under the guide of harmonization". This stern warning was made this week by Mr Len Castleton, immediate past president of the Freight Transport Association.
Mr Castleton said that there was a threefold danger: that the total burden of taxation on the lorry would be increased; that misuse of abstruse formulae {like the fourth power principle) would lead to a savage increase for certain types of vehicle; and that every trailer would be taxed separately, causing a "swingeing penalty on genuine artic operation".
The theme of unwarranted intervention by the EEC in Britain's road transport affairs was stressed by
another FTA speaker this week — Mr Arthur Lambe chairman of the traffic committee. Speaking Southampton yesterday he said that the indus. should "beware of the monster of the draft seco social regulation which is once again beginning to 11 its head". Many first-rate productivity scheni would become illegal if this "misguided nonsens was introduced in its present form, said Mr Lambe What was needed was extra efficiency in rates fort wages explosion.
Mr Lambert also stressed the vital need I adequate dery supplies in the event of fuel rationir Road freight transport consumed only five per cent imported fuel oil and this was essential and "nc substitutable". Government policy must ensure d supplies were available and, equally, were not subjr to artificial price increases.