The RHA is extremely disappointed that the Chancellor failed to reduce fuel duty in the Budget. Commenting, RHA chief executive Richard Burnett said: “At a time of Brexit uncertainty, the Chancellor had the golden opportunity to make the production and distribution of UK goods more competitive. 

“Fuel duty makes the UK less competitive – we have the highest fuel duty in Europe -nearly 50% higher than the European average. And despite the 7-year freeze, at 57.95 pence per litre, fuel duty remains grossly excessive. It has a negative effect on everything we buy and makes all UK made goods more expensive to transport.

“We implore the Chancellor to amend his budget and introduce a fuel duty rebate scheme for essential users of fuel – a system already adopted by 8 EU member states, including our nearest neighbours – The Republic of Ireland, Belgium and France.

“An Essential User Rebate of 10 pence per litre would enable our hauliers to gain advantage over their European counterparts and would considerably lessen the fiscal drain on our emergency services which are also in a financial stranglehold as a result of the high price of diesel.

“Let the sectors that work tirelessly to keep the economy moving and the population safe, well and fed be rewarded, not punished.”

Roade Haulage Association

About the Author: John Loughran