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2nd September 2010, Page 126
2nd September 2010
Page 126
Page 126, 2nd September 2010 — P . , PENDING REVIEW
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Don't tax and cut budget, industry tells goverment

CM COVER STORY

christopherwattonlarbi.co.uk THE INDUSTRY'S trade associations have called on the government not to increase fuel duty if it cuts the Department for Transport's (DfT) budget in the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR).

Both the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and the Freight Transport Association (ETA) say the top priority for the DfT, ahead of budget cut announcements for all departments on 20 October. should be providing a well-maintained and efficient road network in the UK.

The ETA submission to the CSR argues that "revenues from any real-term increases in fuel duties could go straight into a ring-fenced fund for improving and modernising the road network-.

ETA chief executive Theo de Pencier warns: "Cutting capital spending on infrastructure would he a mistake. We must make it clear that any short-term savings made by curtailing investment have to be weighed against the longer-term costs of increased con gestion and unreliability in the supply chain."

The RHA's submission will also emphasise a need for road network quality to be maintained and improved. Head of policy Jack Semple insists that the government should not expect to raise more money from the industry through Lax increases if it wants to cut vital spending projects "The quality of roads, both the surface and capacity, has been neglected for too long. We need to refocus on road capacity and road quality. We will be looking for no further increases in fuel duty. The gap between what UK and Continental hauliers pay has to narrow."

The CSR will outline all government department budgets from 2011 to 2015.


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