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ser charge...
Page 11
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sure. Although some other :iountries either already have or ire planning to introduce lorry 'clad-user charges, any new ;:harge could not be implenented overnight. To prevent he need for burdensome toll )oints or arduous bureaucracy, he government wants to set up my new charge in a modern Nay, making as much use of the atest technology as possible.
a result, it could take around bur years to set up a charge.
We are therefore consulting low to get your views on what is :he best way to proceed so that we can start taking decisions on charge as soon as possible.
I have been Financial secretary to the Treasury for almost six months. In that time 'ye had the opportunity to iisit haulage firms, to get to know the two main haulage :rade associations and to attend meetings of the Road Haulage Forum.
I'm pleased to say that, Nherever I've been, people lave acknowledged the steps ive've taken as part of our commitment to the continued prosperity of the industry. These include: the 3p/lit cut in diesel duty just over six months ago; the radical reforms to lorry vehicle excise duty that will reduce rates for some of the most popular and least damaging lorries to among the lowest in Europe and reduce average rates by over 50% when compared with 18 months ago; the £100m Haulage Modernisation Fund; and the large tax incentives to switch to cleaner fuels such as compressed natural gas.
These are all important measures that support the competitiveness and environmental sustainability of the UK haulage industry.
And of course there are other issues that concern the industry as well. As part of the department with overall responsibility for economic policy, I am very aware of the potential implications of the proposed Working Time Directive for the road haulage industry. I am therefore working with government colleagues to ensure we deliver the best possible outcome for the UK haulage industry—both for employers and for employees.
We look forward to hearing your views on our proposals to introduce a lorry road-user charge. A copy of the consultation document on modernising the taxation of the haulage industry is available from HM Treasury's Public Enquiry Unit on (020) 7270 4558 or on the Treasury's Internet site at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk.