CPA chief calls on Chancellor to avoid 'give-away' Budget

01 November, 2000

ROY Harrison, president of the Construction Products Association, has warned the Chancellor of the Exchequer that he does not believe next spring would be the time for a 'give-away' Budget, even though it may be the last before the General Election.

In a letter to Gordon Brown in advance of his Pre-Budget Statement, Mr Harrison says: 'Given the long overdue commitments to increase spending on the built environment in the recent Comprehensive Spending Review, a 'give-away' Budget could be inflationary.

'What we want to see is a broadly neutral Budget in terms of taxation but with some specifically targeted measures aimed at reducing the tax burden on business and encouraging improved business performance.'

Among the measures proposed by the CPA are:

a reduction of 15p a litre in fuel duty for HGVs
reduced VED for light commercial vehicles
a fundamental review of transport taxes
a commitment that the climate change levy will remain neutral to industry
a rebate on the proposed aggregates tax for environmentally friendly products
incentives for companies for investment in innovation, research, training, IT and e-commerce.