3PL/Logistics

Derrick Potter, chairman of the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA), has called on Transport Secretary Philip Hammond to fulfil the Tory Party's pre-election pledge to introduce a fuel duty stabiliser, at the earliest opportunity

In June'semergency budget, Chancellor George Osborne stated that the potentialimpact of the fuel duty stabiliser would be the subject of an investigation - the results of which will be made known after the summer

Speaking at the UKWA's recent AGM, Potter commented: "While I welcome the investigation in to the fuel duty stabiliser scheme, the freight logistics industry needs decisive action if it is to be able to plan for the future with any kind of certainty

"Unfortunately, some of the flagship policies of the pre-election Conservative manifesto appear to have been quietly dropped or at least dilutedsince the party's successful courtship of the Lib-DemsIt would be particularly regrettable ifthe Tories do not follow through with their pre-election commitment to a fair fuel stabiliser"

Potter also criticised the decision to go ahead with the planned increases in fuel announced by the previous government, which are due to become effective in October this year and January 2011

"The price rises coupled with the increase in the rate of VAT will make it even harder for UK hauliers to be competitive with their foreign counterparts," he said "The fact is that the UK needs a strong haulage industry if it is to compete on the world stage"