Pre-Budget Statement: Gordon Brown correct not to cave in to truckers' selfish demandsTRANSform Scotland, an alliance of 68 transport and environment organisations (1), today supported the Chancellor Gordon Brown's decision not to cut fuel duty. TRANSform Scotland Campaign Manager Colin Howden said: "Gordon Brown is correct to reject the simplistic calls of the road haulage industry for reduced fuel prices. The Labour Party's claims to respect for the environment would have looked ridiculous if it had caved in to the truckers' selfish demands. Brown's reduction in road tax for smaller cars means that anyone who wants to be seen to protect the environment shouldn't be buying ludicrously over-powered and polluting cars." TRANSform Scotland broadly welcomes the package of measures for the road freight industry. Colin Howden said: "The introduction of the 'Britdisk' (or "vignette") for foreign hauliers is sensible. This should end the exaggerated claims by hauliers that their business is taken by foreign hauliers. "The scrappage fund for the road haulage industry is also welcome. The road haulage industry suffers from massive over-capacity and the fund will help in restructuring of the industry." "We are however concerned by the cuts in Vehicle Excise Duty for heavy lorries. There is already evidence that heavy lorries are cross-subsidised by smaller lorries." TRANSform Scotland are however critical of the failure of the Chancellor to take the broader freight industry into account. Colin Howden commented: "It is disappointing that Gordon Brown didn't even mention the broader picture for freight. This statement does nothing to help move freight from road to rail. Indeed, by decreasing the tax burden on the road freight industry the rail freight industry will be faced with an even more unequal playing field." ENDS Notes to Editors: (1) TRANSform Scotland is the national sustainable transport campaign, bringing together 68 organisations - including transport operators, local authorities, national environment and conservation groups, chambers of commerce and local transport groups - interested in transport, the environment and a sustainable Scotland. We can be contacted at 72 Newhaven Road, Edinburgh, EH6 5QG. Tel.: 0131-467-7714; Fax: 0131-554-8656; e-mail: campaigns@transformscotland.org.uk; web: http://www.transformscotland.org.uk END OF NEWS RELEASE |