AS a result of the budget, UK transport and distribution finds itself grossly disadvantaged with the rest of Europe.

Fuel taxes on lorries are now two and a half times the European average and vehicle taxes 10 times that of our near competitors. The sight of many foreign registered lorries on our roads and motorways is already common. In future, it will be the norm for foreign hauliers to find easy pickings in our overtaxed market.

The real sadness is that while The Chancellor says he wants to encourage the industry to be greener, all he is doing is exporting the business, jobs and the tax revenues and importing the pollution from less firmly regulated operators.

This is not the way to treat a world class industry.

We do not seek subsidies, but a level playing field with our continental competitors. As part of an open European market, no business can survive with such grotesque tax distortions.

It beggars belief that the Government can expect to strip £600 million at a stroke out of this industry and talk in the same breath about fostering enterprise and investment.

HEATHER CROCKER, Regional

Policy Manager, Freight Transport Association, Northern Region, Low Lane, Horsforth, Leeds.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.