. „and sues government over unfair fuel tax
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• The Hauliers and Farmers Alliance plans to take the UK government to the European Court of Justice, claiming tax discrimination against British hauliers.
It has taken legal advice from Road Haulage Association solicitor Michael Gotelee of Barker Gotelee who says there is a case for the government to answer. The RHA talked about similar action last May but the HFA says its action will come first.
HFA regional co-ordinator Tim Smith says the legal challenge will cost £15,000—he will be asking hauliers for 21 donations towards this. Smith also hopes for research support from the RHA and the ETA, Michael Gotelee says: "Fuel and duty is at the moment left to individual member states. This will need an awful lot of research to see if it is possible that UK government actions are seriously prejudicial to UK hauliers in comparison to those of other member states. It could be more a human rights issue than one brought under the Treaty of Rome."
The HFA is asking hauhers to send it information that shows the impossibility of competing with foreign hauliers on equal terms. Write to: Northgate House, St Mary's Place, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7PU.