PM points way on fair fuel stabiliser
January 7th 2011 Prime Minister David Cameron has indicated he is working with the Treasury on a fair fuel stabiliser, acknowledging rising prices had been painful for the transport industry.
Shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle accused him of "reheated promises" but the Road Haulage Association welcomed the PM’s move.
“We supported the proposal of a fair fuel stabiliser when it was first raised four years ago and we shall be supporting it now,” said RHA chief executive Geoff Dunning.
“This will certainly go some way to help relieve the crippling financial burden currently being faced by UK hauliers and we shall be pressing for its implementation as soon as possible."
The RHA was encouraged when the Coalition, within weeks of taking power, proposed the possibility of a fuel duty stabiliser and was extremely disappointed when the plans were shelved for financial reasons.
In 2009, road users contributed nearly £50 billion to Treasury coffers. £32 billion of that came from fuel duty and VAT on fuel yet only a small proportion was returned through road building and maintenance.
Dunning continued: “The fact that the price of fuel before tax has risen dramatically means that the Treasury will get far more revenue than expected from the hike in fuel duty on 1 January and the VAT increase on 4 January, so 2011 looks set to be a bumper year for tax income from fuel.
“The money is there. Let’s see some of it being used in a way that may well provide the lifeline that UK hauliers have been so desperately waiting for.” More articles from Handling & Storage Solutions: | 
