VED changes not due till autumn
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• The shake-up of the VED structure, which was expected to be introduced as part of next year's spring Budget, is unlikely to come in I until next autumn.
Last week the Department of Transport announced the transitional VED rebates scheme (see page 8), describing it as "the first stage of a major taxation shake-up of the country's haulage industry to be introduced in next year's Budget".
But industry representatives at the Road Haulage Forum last week learned that new VED rates are unlikely to take effect until autumn 2001.
Ministers at the meeting also promised to clarify the VED situation for operators with Reduced Pollution Certificates who already qualify for rebates. Road Haulage Association national chairman John Bridge says: "That whole RPC issue has been unsatisfactory for some time, but ministers said they would be dealing with it."
Bndge was also pleased with a government promise that the 3p/lit duty cut on ultra-low-sulphur diesel duty would take effect immediately after next year's spring Budget.
The Chancellor, Gordon Brown, made a surprise appearance at the meeting, saying he accepted that the haulage industry has a problem.
Bridge says: "There has been a lot of progress, and we are going into a new era where we can influence and be involved in some of the key issues that are facing us."