The Freight Transport Association is calling on the chancellor to slash fuel duty by at least 5%, as well as scrap the planned inflation-linked fuel duty increase planned for August.
James Hookham, FTA MD of Policy and Communications, says ‘George Osbourne gave Industry and lifeline in the last Budget, but with the economy still in the doldrums and a new round of duty rises looming, we are asking the chancellor to extend this logic. It is clear that the economy still needs it’.
The FTA’s pre-budget submission is also calling for road fuel gases to be fixed relative to diesel rates for at least 5 years to provide confidence for truck operators and investors to commit to use of lower emission vehicles.
Last year, FTA lobbying, in collaboration with the Fair Fuel UK campaign, secured a cut in fuel duty of 1ppl and deferred two planned increases, which the organisation says saved businesses around £500m. However, despite this, FTA data reveals that the price of diesel increased by 7ppl, adding £3,284 to the annual operating cost of a 44-tonner.