Page 16 - link magazine

16
LETTER
TER FROM WESTMINSTER
Fuel taxes, global warming and paying for public services

The 60 day deadline given by fuel protesters in September comes up this month, at the same time as the Chancellor makes a statement about the
economy. South Swindon MP Julia Drown grips the fuel pump filler nozzle and writes about the issue of the moment.
t has been said that politics is the ing a £55 reduction on the cost of
Iart of the possible. It involves the tax disc for the drivers of four
fine balances between competing million smaller cars.
interests - as the debate over fuel On the other hand, in partner-
prices has shown. ship with other countries, the Gov-
On the one hand, the Govern- ernment is committed to tackling
ment wants to help individuals and the pollution from motor vehicles
businesses to travel easily and that contributes to global warm-
cheaply. So it wants to keep down ing which is already causing major
the costs of road travel as much as weather problems. If it continues,
possible. For that reason, the La- we can expect more disasters like
bour Government has cut £400 the terrible floods seen in South
million of motoring taxes, includ- East England in October.
So taxes on motoring, including
petrol duty, have been encouraged
PARKING by those who are concerned about
preserving the planet for future Julia Drown visited the Children's Project at Lower Shaw Farm
CENTRAL SWINDON generations. on 4 October to help collect conkers. See page 22 for details
Fuel prices were a concern be-
of the next children's morning at the farm
fore any of the blockades when the
Annual long stay Government ended the 'fuel duty in fuel duty down to the rate of The Government works with
escalator' introduced by the Con- inflation is the one that has come motoring and environmental or-
parking only servative Government in 1993, under pressure to take further ac- ganisations to achieve a sensible
£45.50 per month whereby petrol duty was increased tion. and affordable solution. My post-
each year by more than the rate of The other reason for levying bag contains letters from constitu-
inflation, at the last budget. taxes is, of course, to pay for public ents calling for lower fuel duty
Contact: Indeed under the previous gov- services - health, education, pen- and others asking for it to be kept
Alison ) ernment fuel duty rates actually sions and more. To cut fuel duty at the present level or raised.
The Chancellor's Autumn State-
Kearney J 1 rose by 57% between March 1992 by two pence per litre would cost ment will strike the balance be-
public finances almost £lbn.
and November 1996.
tel: 616333 So it is ironic that the first gov- At a time when many people are tween competing needs and de-
ernment since 1993 to peg changes calling for increased spending on mands. Everyone, whatever their
lJ :DJ II
pensions, health and education, the views, should recognise the diffi-
cost to the public purse of doing cult background against which
this needs to be weighed carefully such judgements have to be made.
against these competing demands. Julia Drown can be contacted at
'ABINGDON It should also be remembered 13 Bath Road, Swindon. Tel: 615444
that - for all that some people [email protected]
would have you believe - the rise
OLSTERY in petrol prices over the last few Learn The Modern Jive &
months has not been due to a large
increase in duty. The problem is Experience A Night of
the extreme volatility in world
prices. In recent years, world oil CEROC
Buy direct from your local prices fell from $19 to $11 a barrel, Professionally
only to rise sharply to $34. By the
manufacturer and save money time you read this, the world price Qualified Instructors
is likely to have changed again -
At Faringdon Upholstery we manufacture top quality upholstery especially in the light of instability Dance to the
supplied direct to the public. We make your furniture the way in the Middle East. classic sounds of the
you want it, with thousands of fabrics to choose from. Fuel prices rose by 18p per litre 40's to the 90's
over the 16 months to July this Just Turn Up
* Craftsman built Don't settle for year. Of that, duty was responsi- Come on your own
ble for less than 2p. In fact, the
mass produced or with friends
* All suites fully guaranteed increase in fuel duty this year was
when you can have 8 No previous
actually the lowest for eleven years.
*All suites covered in made-to-measure Much has been made of the com- experience necessary
your own choice of fabric for the same price! parison between the cost of motor- Complete beginners
Come and see our ing in the UK and on the Conti- welcome - anytime
nent. But these should be exam- O Full disco
* Solid wood frames wide selection of
ined very carefully. It is true that Drinks available
suites today it costs £50 to fill up a typical car in
Made to measure Every Friday at the
the UK, in comparison with £44 in
Holland and £42 in France. But the Memorial Hall
* Re-upholstery Station Road
overall costs of motoring involve
service much more than fuel. When Con- Wootton Bassett
01367
tinental road tolls and other mo- W7.45pm to 11pm
* Curtains 24185! toring taxes are taken into account, Information Line:
the total cost of driving in coun- 07899 967144
tries like Holland and France is
much higher than in Britain. www.ceroc.org