More than 700 businesses call for end to fuel tax
More than 700 businesses have called on the chancellor to scrap the 2p fuel tax planned for April
The increase of 2p a litre in fuel duty coming into effect in April will cost
the haulage industry £170m, according to 700 businesses which have called on
chancellor Alistair Darling to scrap the tax.
In a letter to the chancellor, the companies said the higher fuel tax would
make British hauliers less competitive than their European rivals, according to
BBC News. ‘We are alarmed by the signals that the government appears to be
sending to such a crucial industry at a time when the economy appears to be
stalling,’ the letter said.
The British
Chambers of Commerce (BBC) said the government must urgently reconsider the
tax.
‘This is yet another tax on business which further erodes our international
competitiveness,’ David Frost, BCC director general, said.
The Road Haulage
Association is meeting with Darling in early February in an effort to
convince him to reverse the decision.