The RHA has laid down four elements for achieving a “sustainable recovery” and has urged the government to consider the environmental, economic and social needs of business and people.
The association pointed out that the industry has been hit hard by the pandemic and many companies have seen work all but dry up.
However, it cautioned against the government’s emphasis on a “green recovery” and said a sustainable recovery was more relevant: “Far too often the term ‘green’ is used to justify poorly evidenced disruptions to the road network and in transport policies, made without consideration of the potential impacts on the society or the local economy,” said RHA chief executive Richard Burnett.
He said a roadmap should be produced for sustainable change over the long-term and he said the key elements are a freeze in fuel duty; an essential-user rebate; skills investment and greater investment in infrastructure.
Burnett explained that any rise in fuel duty would undermine a recovery and cause damage to the economy and a rebate would cut fuel duty to German levels over the next five years.
He also said the industry remained largely dependent on around 60,000 non-UK EU nationals and the apprenticeship levy needed an overhaul to stop it being a “stealth tax”.
Burnett’s comments come ahead of the autumn budget, which is expected to take place in November.
