Consultation launched on new lorry taxPost by Ian MacLeod on 25th January 2012 in Shipping The government has launched a consultation on plans to introduce a new heavy goods vehicle charge, designed to level the playing field between UK and foreign hauliers. The plan is to bring in a new road user charging scheme, which would see HGVs over 12 tonnes charged up to £10 per day. Due to EU rules, British hauliers would also have to pay the fee, but the idea is to offset the extra cost by reducing the amount of road tax or fuel duty paid by UK drivers. In a statement, the Department for Transport said as vehicles are only charged for using a select few roads in Britain, such as the M6 Toll, and as most foreign operators purchase their fuel outside the UK, "they therefore contribute nothing towards the cost of our roads". Roads minister Mike Penning said: "Each year there are around 1.5 million trips to the UK by foreign registered lorries – but none of them pay to use our roads, leaving UK businesses and taxpayers to foot the bill. "A lorry road user charge would ensure that all hauliers who use our roads are contributing to their cost, regardless of where they are from – helping UK hauliers to get a fairer deal and increasing employment and promoting growth in the UK." The consultation is set to run until April 18.
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