Ladyman tells Government it still needs to do more for motorists and hauliers.

"Postponing the 2p fuel duty rise is good news for hard pressed families but there's more work to do to help hauliers" says MP.

Local MP, Steve Ladyman has told Government ministers that they need to do more to help Kent's hauliers. "The dramatic rise in oil prices is not the Government's fault but it is hitting hauliers hard and they need more help. Either we need to reduce duty on diesel or cut Vehicle Excise Duty on heavy goods vehicles" said Dr.Ladyman. To illustrate his case Dr.Ladyman used figures for the impact of fuel price rises on Les Knight Transport, a Kent haulage company.

Dr.Ladyman welcomed the Government's announcement to postpone the 2p fuel duty rise for the Autumn. "That makes 11 times a duty rise has been postponed under this Government and the rate of duty on fuel in real terms is now less than in 1997. It was right that the Government acted now but while petrol is now cheaper in the UK than in many countries, including France and Germany, Diesel is more expensive because we don't discount the duty rate on it. That hurts our haulage industry and also discourages people from buying diesel cars which are the 'green' option for people who do most of their driving on the open road."

"We could pay for a cut in Excise duty by introducing a vignette to be paid by all trucks. That way foreign trucks would provide the revenue to cut the costs of the British industry".

Dr.Ladyman also told the House the Government should make more changes to the way motorists are taxed to convince them that car taxes are fair and win them onto the Government's Green agenda. Speaking in the House of Commons he said:

"There are 23 million motorists who clearly feel that the net package of taxation that they are having to pay is unfair and, as a proportion of taxation as a whole, places too great a burden on their shoulders. I believe that we need to get those 23 million motorists on side with our green agenda, because otherwise we will never be able to drive down carbon emissions from road transport. That is why I believe that we must put together a package of measures that will make motorists instinctively feel that the taxation system is a bit fairer than it is today."