The Chancellor's Pre-Budget Report speech, scheduled for Wednesday 6 December, is the key element in a series of publications also targeted for on or around that date which have considerable significance for future transport operations. The Freight Transport Association will be pleased to provide information, comment or reaction on all of the prospective statements and publications.
Pre-Budget Report - the Chancellor may discuss, or even take action regarding the currently frozen level of fuel duty, on Vehicle Excise Duty or fiscal incentives for clean and green engines. He may also refer to the operating quality of foreign lorries working in the UK and the resources available to the enforcement agency VOSA.
Eddington Transport Study - the Treasury and the Department for Transport jointly commissioned Sir Rod Eddington to consider the post 2015 link between economic growth and transport. The Eddington Report is understood to be published at the time of the Pre-Budget Report and the Chancellor is certain to refer to its findings in his speech.
Haulage Industry Task Group - following the transport industry commissioning and producing the Burns Report to look at comparative levels of fuel duty for road transport in the UK and Europe, and the operation of foreign vehicles in the UK. The report of the Haulage Industry Task Group will be published around this time.
Operator Licensing - the Department for Transport will make an announcement regarding the modernisation of Operator Licensing for goods vehicle operators on or around 6 December. O-licensing is the regime which governs the way in which goods vehicles and their operators work in the UK and the scheme is now the subject of modernisation.
FTA reaction to any or all of these subjects will be available from Geoff Dossetter in the FTA press office on 01892 552255 or direct from:
Pre-Budget Report - Simon Chapman, Chief Economist, dtel: 01892 552274
Eddington Report/Haulage Industry Task Group - James Hookham, Deputy Chief Executive, dtel: 01892 552256
Operator Licensing - Gavin Scott, Head of Safety Enforcement and O-licensing Policy, dtel: 01786 457503.