Chancellor should scrap duty rise in fuel not simply defer it, says the Chamber
13/03/2008
The Chamber has welcomed the Budget announcement that the Chancellor will defer the introduction of the 2p fuel duty rise.
Commenting on the announcement, Chamber Chief Executive Richard Lacy said the Chancellor was right not to introduce the duty rise but said the Chancellor should have scrapped the rise rather than simply deferring it:
'Businesses and motorists are being squeezed by higher fuel costs and the Government is getting an unexpected windfall due to higher duty receipts. There is no justification for a 2p rise in October.'
The announcement is evidence of the considerable clout the Chamber network is able to offer the business community. Businesses from Bedfordshire and Luton were among 700 chambers of commerce members, across the UK, who signed a British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) petition calling for the increase to be scrapped. Several motoring and logistics organisations, including the AARHA and FTA, followed the BCC's lead adding further weight to the message.
