FOE Cymru Press Releases on Transport Issues
Parity With Europe Easy
Climate Change Much Much More Difficult Say FOE Cymru (13/10/00)
Friends of the Earth Cymru (FOE Cymru) have responded to calls by Brynle
Williams and other fuel protestors for 'parity with Europe' on haulage
costs by calling on Government to introduce the Eurovignette road toll
which would charge foreign hauliers for using UK roads. The
environmentalists say that reducing fuel duties, the fuel protestors
preferred option, would only damage efforts to improve fuel efficiency and
reduce UK emissions of greenhouse gases which are causing climate change.
FOE Cymru point out that the much publicised 'threat' to British hauliers
from foreign operators tanked up on cheaper foreign diesel is exceedingly
small (1). The group say that when foreign road tolls and excise duties are
considered along side fuel duties there is little disparity in haulage
costs between the UK and abroad, and even that would be neutralised by the
'vignette' or road toll.
The environmentalists support the recent House of Commons Transport
Committee's conclusion that UK diesel duties should not be lowered as HGV's
do not yet pay all their environmental and social costs (1). Such costs
include a climate change charge. However, proportionate reductions in VED
should be made if and when the Eurovignette levy is introduced to offset
the levy on UK hauliers. FoE says that overcapacity in the haulage market
is the painful problem and a Government package to help marginal operators
to leave the industry should be considered.
Neil Crumpton, transport spokesperson for FOE Cymru and member of the Welsh
Transport Forum said:
"Despite growing concerns about climate change, the UK haulage industry has
brazenly made a huge national campaign out of what is a paper thin argument
about parity with foreign hauliers and cheaper fuel prices. Only 0.06% of
domestic freight is carried by foreign hauliers and the introduction of the
'Eurovignette' system which would charge foreign hauliers for using UK
roads would address any parity calls. It is overcapacity in the haulage
industry not foreign competition that is the root problem and the solutions
lay outside subsidising diesel fuel which would only undermine efforts to
tackle the growing death and destruction wrought by climate change".
ENDS
Notes
1) House of Commons Transport Sub-Committee 15th Report on 'The Road
Haulage Industry' (reported in ENDS Report August 2000 page 28). The
Committee found that just 0.06% of domestic haulage is conducted by foreign
operators, and that only three cases of UK hauliers losing business to
overseas competition were substantiated. The Road Haulage Association (RHA)
had to concede that the threat from foreign hauliers was a future
possibility not an actuality. Both the Committee, the RHA and indeed FoE
support the introduction of the Eurovignette road use levy to level even
the small national differences in overall roadfreight taxation.
Also see DETR NERA Report (July 2000 ? Press Released Sept 2000) on track,
environmental and other costs of HGV's.
FOE Cymru blast Haulage Association on Fuel Protests
Friends of the Earth Cymru have condemned the Road Haulage Association
(RHA) for gross exaggeration which helped fuel public outrage during the
recent fuel crisis. The group point out that the much publicised 'threat'
to British hauliers from foreign operators tanked up on cheaper foreign
diesel is exceedingly small according to a revealing House of Commons
Transport Sub-Committee report (1). FOE Cymru say that even this small
disparity could be neutralised by the 'vignette' or road use levy not
diesel price cuts.
FOE Cymru say that their views support and reiterate the recent (August
2000) conclusions of the Commons Transport Committee on the road haulage
association. The Committee found that just 0.06% of domestic haulage is
conducted by foreign operators, and that only three cases of UK hauliers
losing business to overseas competition were substantiated. The RHA had to
concede that the threat from foreign hauliers was a future possibility not
an actuality. Both the Committee, the RHA and indeed FoE support the
introduction of the Eurovignette road use levy to level even the small
national differences in overall roadfreight taxation.
The environmentalists also support the Transport Committee's conclusion
that UK diesel duties should not be lowered as HGV's do not yet pay all
their environmental and social costs (2), but some proportionate reductions
in VED should be made if and when the Eurovignette levy is introduced. FoE
says that overcapacity in the haulage market is the painful problem and
some Government package to help marginal operators to leave the industry
should be drawn up.
Neil Crumpton, transport spokesperson for FOE Cymru and member of the Welsh
Transport Forum chaired by Environment Secretary Sue Essex said:
"We condemn the RHA and those hauliers who have inflamed public feeling
recently by grossly exaggerating the so called threat to British truckers
posed by foreign hauliers using cheaper diesel. The RHA's brazen and
uncaring attitude, in the teeth of a damming rejection of their claims by
the Commons Transport Committee needs to be publicly exposed before any
Phase 2 fuel protests."
"It is overcapacity in the cut-throat haulage industry not foreign
competition that is the root problem and the solutions lay outside
subsidising diesel fuel."
The Committee also found that in 1998/99 no less than 37% of HGV's failed
their initial roadworthiness tests, 13% still failed after retesting, and
22% received prohibition notices after roadside checks. FOE Cymru are
appalled by this safety record and point out that this is probably why
HGV's have a relatively high injury rate compared with cars yet revenues
raised from roadfreight do not even cover road injury costs to the health
service (2).
ENDS
Contact: Neil Crumpton on 01248 602840
Notes:
1) House of Commons Transport Sub-Committee 15th Report on 'The Road
Haulage Industry' (reported in ENDS Report August 2000 page 28).
2) DETR NERA Report (July 2000 ? Press Released Sept 2000) on track,
environmental and other costs of HGV's.
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