Treasury promises to debate with FairFuelUK By Laura Hailstone FAIRFUELUK
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(I,I,UK) founder Peter Carroll has welcomed the Treasury's pledge to engage in dialogue to discuss the heart of 1,I,UK's campaign, which shows that cutting fuel duty would boost the economy.
In an exclusive interview with CM last week, chief secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander (pictured) revealed that there were some assumptions in the National Institute of Economic & Social Research report, commissioned by 1,I,UK, that the Treasury "considers to be pretty questionable", but said he wants to have further discussions to "understand the truth of it". "The 1,I,UK campaign has been one of the most consistently effective campaigns I've dealt with," said Alexander. "There is some important evidence in that report, but if we're going to get to the bottom of this, we need to make sure it's done based on the best analysis we can do. That's why I've opened the door of the Treasury to the 1,I,UK campaign for further debate," Alexander told CM.
Carroll said that while every postponement or cancellation of fuel duty is a "victory in its own right", an equally important victory is "the fact that we are now having dialogue with the highest levels of government on our central argument — that a cut in fuel duty can be a boost for UK growth, which is largely self-financing".
"I take great heart that the minister has confirmed that he's opened the door of the Treasury to 1,I,UK to have this discussion and debate.
"We will emphatically take up this invitation," said Carroll.
HOW MUCH OF AN ISSUE IS FUEL DUTY?
DA: "I'm very aware [of this issue]. I've had haulage operators in my constituency raise this issue with me. I know that if you've got a modest fleet of vehicles it can be thousands of pounds of cost to your company over a year The price of fuel and the tax element of that is a hugely important issue." INTRODUCING AN ESSENTIAL USER REBATE?
DA: "We don't need to make our tax system more complicated. That's something I would worry about in the context of an essential user rebate. But in the Budget we did again freeze VED for LGVs and the HGV Road User Levy which is designed to level the playing field between UK and foreign hauliers, comes in next year"