Main points raised in this afternoon's Budget - Alistair Darling's first as Chancellor of the Exchequer - are listed below:- The planned increase in fuel duty by 2p per litre has been postponed until October of this year. This is seen as a positive step by transport operators in the UK as it was only last week that a barrel of oil had reached an all-time high of $110. The Freight Transport Association claim that the deferral will save the transport and logistics industry around £140 million.
- Despite many thinking road-pricing was not off the agenda, the Chancellor announced he plans to set-up test areas for road-pricing throughout the UK.
- A major reform of vehicle excise duty will take place in 2009 which will see a staggered road tax fee per car per year from new. It is unlikely to have a direct effect on PCVs, though the small-print has yet to be released.
- Check-in times at Heathrow and Gatwick ariports are to be reduced
- 10% increase in air passenger duty is planned.
