PRA Budget Comment 2018

FUEL DUTY

The Petrol Retailers’ Association welcomes the Chancellors confirmation in today’s budget that fuel duty will continue to be frozen for a further 12 months. This will be the ninth year in a row that this tax has been unchanged.

Total savings for the average car driver are estimated to be over £1,000 and the average van driver over £2,500.

PRA has been lobbying Government and the Treasury, in particular outlining the potentially damaging effects on the economy and household budgets of even an inflation-linked rise, so it is positive to hear the Chancellor’s commitment.

However, PRA will continue to press for fuel duty to be cut to boost our economy and move the UK towards a level playing field with fuel duty levels in EU countries as we head towards Brexit.  

BUSINESS RATES

Whilst we welcome the announcement that business rate relief for all companies with rateable value of £51,000 or less will be cut by a third, the Treasury has not yet made clear whether this will include Petrol Filling Stations (PFS) as one of the eligible business categories. 

PFS compete with numerous smaller businesses in the high streets such as corner shops, pubs and cafes. It would be seriously anti-competitive for the Government to provide rates relief for these enterprises without also including PFS which provide wide-ranging services to consumers. 

We will now engage with the Government to ensure that our members can benefit from future measures.