Duty-free fuel for Kent.
Discussion
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/...
Fuel prices in Dover could soon be slashed by up to 30 per cent if Kent County Council has its way. It’s looking for permission from the Government to cut fuel duty at the port to encourage foreign truckers to buy fuel.
Fuel tax is just 36.76p per litre in France, and 28p per litre in Luxembourg, compared to 57.95p per litre here. So foreign truckers fill up on diesel before entering Britain and, thanks to the enormous fuel tanks of HGVs, can travel all across the country without needing to refill until they’re back on the Continent.
“They don’t contribute a penny to Britain but are a burden on our roads,” council leader Paul Carter told us. “You’ve got to bring the duty down to a competitive level with France and Luxembourg.”
The move could see fuel at Dover being sold for as much as 30p per litre less than in the rest of the UK. And British truckers and private motorists crossing the Channel would benefit from the lower prices, too.
Kent County Council has already notified the Department for Transport of its idea and is putting together a proposal for roads minister Mike Penning. “The idea would be a fuel station within the customs zone,” said Carter. “We think it’s doable. And even with a lower rate of duty, it would produce around £500m worth of Treasury revenue that goes to France or Luxembourg. It’s a win-win situation.”
The council’s plan was the only silver lining for a crisis-hit fuel industry last week. As we went to press, the threat of an oil tanker drivers’ strike was looming after Unite union members voted overwhelmingly in favour of action.
Unite represents the major fuel distribution companies in the UK, which supply 90 per cent of the nation’s forecourts. And there were queues at petrol stations last week after Government advice to motorists to stockpile fuel sparked panic buying.
Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/...
Fuel prices in Dover could soon be slashed by up to 30 per cent if Kent County Council has its way. It’s looking for permission from the Government to cut fuel duty at the port to encourage foreign truckers to buy fuel.
Fuel tax is just 36.76p per litre in France, and 28p per litre in Luxembourg, compared to 57.95p per litre here. So foreign truckers fill up on diesel before entering Britain and, thanks to the enormous fuel tanks of HGVs, can travel all across the country without needing to refill until they’re back on the Continent.
“They don’t contribute a penny to Britain but are a burden on our roads,” council leader Paul Carter told us. “You’ve got to bring the duty down to a competitive level with France and Luxembourg.”
The move could see fuel at Dover being sold for as much as 30p per litre less than in the rest of the UK. And British truckers and private motorists crossing the Channel would benefit from the lower prices, too.
Kent County Council has already notified the Department for Transport of its idea and is putting together a proposal for roads minister Mike Penning. “The idea would be a fuel station within the customs zone,” said Carter. “We think it’s doable. And even with a lower rate of duty, it would produce around £500m worth of Treasury revenue that goes to France or Luxembourg. It’s a win-win situation.”
The council’s plan was the only silver lining for a crisis-hit fuel industry last week. As we went to press, the threat of an oil tanker drivers’ strike was looming after Unite union members voted overwhelmingly in favour of action.
Unite represents the major fuel distribution companies in the UK, which supply 90 per cent of the nation’s forecourts. And there were queues at petrol stations last week after Government advice to motorists to stockpile fuel sparked panic buying.
Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/...
oyster said:
hornetrider said:
Norfolk and chance.
What makes you think the Treasury would turn their noses up at £500m extra tax revenue each year?hornetrider said:
oyster said:
hornetrider said:
Norfolk and chance.
What makes you think the Treasury would turn their noses up at £500m extra tax revenue each year?hornetrider said:
oyster said:
hornetrider said:
Norfolk and chance.
What makes you think the Treasury would turn their noses up at £500m extra tax revenue each year?Mind you, if it's in the customs zone, there wouldn't be space for the queue as people came off the boats...
Haggleburyfinius said:
hornetrider said:
oyster said:
hornetrider said:
Norfolk and chance.
What makes you think the Treasury would turn their noses up at £500m extra tax revenue each year?
I missed the quote "customs zone".
Can you imagine the queues off the ferry though!
They could avoid all of the complications by cutting fuel tax generally. France manages with 37p tax instead of our - soon to be - 61p. Germany taxes diesel far far lower than we do and even car hating Netherlands has cheaper diesel than here.
All this does is prove my point the UK relies too heavily on fuel tax to pay its bills and needs to ween itself off fuel duty.
All this does is prove my point the UK relies too heavily on fuel tax to pay its bills and needs to ween itself off fuel duty.
There'll be calls to leave the EU every time we cant do what we want but the rules do make a certain amount of sense. Used properly these rules could equalise fuel costs across Europe yet we tax our diesel at twice what Holland and Germany do, and tax our petrol higher than France so the rule isn't working. We need to bring our fuel tax down in line with everybody else so as we never need to make a 'special case.'
If you need to make an exemption for certain parts of the country then that proves the fuel tax is too high.
If you need to make an exemption for certain parts of the country then that proves the fuel tax is too high.
martin84 said:
There'll be calls to leave the EU every time we cant do what we want but the rules do make a certain amount of sense. Used properly these rules could equalise fuel costs across Europe yet we tax our diesel at twice what Holland and Germany do, and tax our petrol higher than France so the rule isn't working. We need to bring our fuel tax down in line with everybody else so as we never need to make a 'special case.'
If you need to make an exemption for certain parts of the country then that proves the fuel tax is too high.
EU Federal Tax?!! If you need to make an exemption for certain parts of the country then that proves the fuel tax is too high.
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