News From the RHA: Fuel Duty - Now for Real Action

LONDON, May 30, 2008 -- After this week's fuel price protest in London, the Road Haulage Association is pressing ahead with arrangements for a mass rally and lobby of Parliament in early July after getting the full support of the RHA Board of Directors.

This will be timed to coincide with the SNP amendment to the current Finance Bill seeking the introduction of a Fuel Duty Regulator designed to stabilise fuel prices.

"Earlier this week protesters certainly captured the media's attention for what is an absolutely just cause, but handing yet another letter to No. 10 does not move us any further forward," said RHA Chief Executive Roger King. "To have an impact, we need to get directly involved with a parliamentary process that will confront Government face to face so that they have to answer publicly as to what they propose to do. Fortunately this amendment promises to do just that."

The RHA will be putting in motion what is intended to be one of the biggest parliamentary lobby's of recent times. "Once we have the date on which the Scottish National Party amendment is to be debated we will advise members accordingly and urge them to attend to lobby their MP's. In addition to the amendment we will also be campaigning for the October 2ppl fuel duty increase to be abandoned." concluded Mr King.