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Howe 'wrong', says MP

9th April 1983, Page 6
9th April 1983
Page 6
Page 6, 9th April 1983 — Howe 'wrong', says MP
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A WARNING that hauliers' profits could be slashed by the new rates of tax on heavy lorries has come from an MP.

Selly Oak Tory MP, Anthony Beaumont-Dark, told CM that an operator in his Birmingham constituency had complained to him that his profit would be hit by 17 per cent.

"I think the Chancellor has got it wrong," said Mr BeaumontDark, who added that hauliers might be tempted to obtain more smaller but lower taxed lorries.

He had earlier quizzed Chancellor Sir Geoffrey Howe about the 25.8 per cent increase in duty on 32.5-tonne lorries when he appeared before the Treasury Select Committee.

Sir Geoffrey said the ratio of tax in duty to increases of the order of 3 to 2. The changes had followed from the Armitage Report. The rates had been deliberately readjusted in favour of less road-damaging vehicles "to the point where they pay their share of the road costs".

The increase in maximum weights had been designed to improve the prospects of that end of the market. "It was always set in the context of the Armitage Report. I rest my case on that."


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