How to cut costs in one easy lesson
Page 38
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"CUT COSTS and become more competitive," chants the Government with evangelical fervour. So it imposes swingeing increases in excise duty on the heavy lorries that could promote its aim and discriminates against the 38tonne vehicles which it has agreed will cause less road wear than 32.5-tonners. At the same time the Government raises the tax on dery by 3p a gallon.
If these playful tickles in hauliers' ribs do not produce a giggle, the victims will fall about with helpless mirth when they are asked to pay 12 per cent more in vehicle test fees, which will then have risen by over 42 per cent in 18 months.
The knock-about comedians in Parliament who complain that the Conservatives are biased in favour of road transport should find a new gag-writer.