Tories propose Brit Disc for inclusion in Transport Bill
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by Dominic Perry The prospect of foreign hauliers being charged to enter the UK came a step closer this week following an amendment to the Transport Bill tabled by the Conservatives.
Tory peer Earl Attlee and two of his Lords colleagues have tabled the amendment to the Bill, which is currently passing through the House of Lords. This would enable the Transport Secretary to charge foreign trucks and large passenger vehicles entering the country If the government is serious about introducing the Brit Disc as part of its plans to appease fuel protesters—and many pundits see this as more likely than a reduction in fuel duty—it is hard to see how it can throw out the amendment without appearing to perform a U-turn weeks later.
Attlee says that he has mixed feelings over the amendment's chances of success because the government is bound to be reluctant to accept a Tory amendment of such magntude. "However I cannot see how they can refuse to accept it and then announce it in the pre-Budget statement," he adds.
The Tory amendment to the Bill also proposes an annual review of the scheme and widespread consultation.
An FTA spokesman says: It has been on our agenda for a long while now. There is no justice in UK operators having to pay to use foreign roads whilst foreign operators use ours for nothing. 1 believe, however, that the government may
talk about this matter in the Chancellor's statement next week. From that point of view it may be on the way anyway."
Whatever happens to the amendment, the FTA says that the Brit Disc will not be a quick-fix solution to the crisis in UK haulage as it will take some time to implement.
The FHA echoes the FTA's comments, pointing out that the Brit Disc scheme has been one of its policies for a number of years.
A DOT spokeswoman refused to speculate on the Chancellor's plans.
The FTA met Treasury minister Simon Timms last week, putting arguments for industry concessions.