No plans for direct action
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• Hauliers are to be offered an alternative to direct action as the Road Haulage and Freight Transport Associations launch attacks on the Government's fuel tax policy. The RHA will launch its Fair Play On Fuel campaign on 11 July, calling For an Essential User Rebate. It will feature regional rallies, national newspaper adverts and parliamentary petitions. The FTA is slamming the fuel cost "escalator" as a "failed policy" which is not achieving the desired environmental benefits.
It says: "Excessive taxation sucks out so much revenue from the transport sector that little is left to invest in cleaner, greener equipment. Roadfreight transport needs more carrot and less stick."
Both associations claim that the escalator is little more than a revenue stream for the Government; and they believe it will backfire. RHA director-general Steven Norris says: "By 2002 the Chancellor will be losing £830m a year in fuel duty because of fuel purchased abroad. That's the stupidity of being too greedy." U The French government is rumoured to be considering a diesel duty escalator based on the UK model.