Haulier used to support tax hikes threatens to flag out
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• by Karen Miles the haulier held up by the Government as evidence that UK operators have low costs compared with their Continental competitors is threatening to flag out his entire fleet, Brian Yeardley Continental was cited in a report by accountants KPMG and used by the Government to argue against operators' tax complaints. But Brian Yeardley says he will move all 75 of his UK-based vehicles to I iixembourg unless the Treasury moves soon to ease his crippling tax burden.
The Pontefract-based company already operates 20 trucks from a Luxembourg site and buys all of its fuel cheaply on the Continent. Vehicle insurance and social costs are slightly higher in Luxembourg, but Yeardley says: In comparison to VED and fuel duties they're irrelevant...there's such a vast saving that we should go. If they're trying to say that operating vehicles in the UK is far cheaper than elsewhere then that is a load of codswallop."
Yeardley will only keep his fleet in the UK if the Government
introduces concessions for hauliers in the next couple of months.
His case was raised last week by the Conservatives in a House of Commons debate. However, Transport Minister John Reid claimed that the Government was already providing assistance to hauliers and that the sector was "basically sound" but with "elements...undergoing the pains of over-capacity".
Yeardley is aghast that the Government used the KPMG report featuring his preBudget accounts to justify its position. • The Chancellor could announce plans to reduce some of the VED burden in his November pre-Budget review. But any changes would not be implemented until the next full Budget in March 2000.
Blyth Valley Labour MP Ronnie Campbell. says: "I'm thinking they might signal giving something back in November. It would be sensible for hauliers to keep up the pressure until then."