Cutting fuel duty and reducing business taxes have emerged as the two clear measures hauliers want from the government ahead of the Budget in three weeks’ time.
The RHA’s business confidence survey asked what support would provide businesses with the confidence to invest and grow and 82% responded with a cut in duty. Identifying lower business and employment taxes was chosen by 81%.
The survey also found 61% supported an essential user rebate for haulage operators and 49% urged investment in roads and infrastructure.
Around 48% want investment for driver recruitment, training and industry skills.
Richard Smith, RHA MD, said responses so far came from a large number of operators and reflected the breadth of the industry.
“Our ask of government ahead of the Budget is clear: use this evidence to back the businesses that keep Britain moving,” he said.
“Hold fuel duty down, ease the cost of employing and developing people, and invest in the roads and infrastructure operators depend on.
“Practical support in these areas would give businesses of every size greater confidence to invest, recruit and grow.”
Meanwhile, Peel Ports Group said the construction sector could regain momentum if the country took a smarter approach to how materials entered and moved around the UK.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has set out what he described as the biggest council housebuilding programme since the post-war period with the government committing nearly £10bn to build 70,000 council and social homes, as part of a wider programme to deliver 1.5m homes in this parliament.
However, it has already been acknowledged that there was a “slim chance” of meeting this target.
Peel Ports said there was also a major pipeline of infrastructure projects including Sizewell C, the Lower Thames Crossing and Heathrow Airport’s expansion, despite ONS figures showing construction output had fallen during Q2.
It is advocating for greater cooperation between the ports and construction sectors to deliver greater efficiencies, to manage costs and emissions in the delivery of major projects. The port group helped create Sustainable Construction Partners, which promotes early supply chain engagement for greener infrastructure delivery.
David Huck, COO at Peel Ports Group, said: “Despite being tasked with an ambitious pipeline of projects, the construction industry is seemingly struggling to overcome a combination of hurdles, from higher material costs to skills shortages, and the government has acknowledged even its own ambitions may not be achievable.
“We believe an obvious place to start is with how vital construction materials get into and move around the country.
“A more considered, sustainable and better-coordinated approach could open up growth right across the country, and that’s why we’re partnering with like-minded businesses through our Sustainable Construction Partners.”
