Budget Delivers Few Positives for UK Freight Forwarders

London, United Kingdom, March 24, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Peter Quantrill, Director General of the trade association for UK forwarders said: “It is disappointing that the fuel duty increase planned for August 2012 has not been scrapped in today’s Budget.

“Such a move would have sent out a very positive message from Government to businesses in our sector which operate on the tightest of margins and put us in a better position to both facilitate international trade and compete on a level playing field with foreign competition."

Quantrill welcomed the news that vehicle excise duty will be frozen on heavy goods vehicles.

“We are also pleased to hear that the coalition Government intends to double UK exports to £1 trillion this decade which would bring additional business to BIFA members. It is also positive that the Government is prepared to confront the lack of airport capacity in the south-east. We now look forward to hearing more about Government initiatives which will deliver on these announcements.

“We note that the Government will take forward many of Alan Cook’s recommendations for the roads, including developing a national roads strategy and setting a renewed focus on the level of performance expected from the Highways Agency.

“We also note that the Government will consider whether to go further and will carry out a feasibility study into new ownership and financing models for the national road network. BIFA will now look into how we can contribute to that study.

“However, it would have been nice to see more initiatives of specific relevance to our members business activities, recognising the important role of freight transport and international trade to the UK’s economic success.”