UK freight forwarders count on Chancellor to deliver today (Wednesday)
Mar 19, 2013
The trade association for UK freight forwarders says that this week's budget must be a business-focussed budget if the Chancellor is to be taken seriously about getting the UK economy moving again.
The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has said its members are keen to see positive announcements on such things as transport infrastructure spending, fuel duty and business tax reform.
The association said its members are looking for some cash flow favours on Wednesday, with fuel prices remaining a major concern.
On fuel prices, Peter Quantrill, BIFA Director General said that the association's members want long term certainty, rather than incremental postponements, and would love to see the Government get serious on fuel duty, not with just another postponement, but an outright cut.
"We would still like to see the introduction of an essential user rebate and some form of fuel duty stabilisation mechanism."
Quantrill adds that in addition to concerns over fuel prices, the problems caused by congestion remain a major issue for BIFA members.
"We also hope to see some positive announcements about investment in transport infrastructure, not just to help kick start economic growth, but also to alleviate congestion which is evident across all transport modes and causes major problems to our members' management of customer supply chains.
"BIFA always urges those in power, not to overlook the important role of freight transport and international trade in a country's economic success. Our members are the 'glue' which holds international trade together, and they deserve recognition of this fact with some positive initiatives in this week's budget, which really helps businesses be confident in the economy going forward."
