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UK's budget on freeze in fuel duty not enough, BIFA says
来源：Shipping News Headlines 编辑：编辑部 发布：2021/03/05 09:14:23
THE British International Freight Association (BIFA) says its welcomes some of the macro-economic announcements in the UK Budget that will offer ongoing support to businesses in the industry that have been hit hard by the double-edged sword of EU exit and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Robert Keen, director general of BIFA, which represents the UK international freight services, said members of the association welcomed the news that the freeze in fuel duty will remain. "However, they would have preferred to see an outright cut, the introduction of an essential user rebate and some form of fuel duty stabilisation mechanism."
Commenting on the news that eight freeports would be introduced in East Midlands Airport, Felixstowe and Harwich, Humber, Liverpool City Region, Plymouth, Solent, Thames and Teesside, Mr Keen said: "To date, BIFA has been indifferent to this proposed development, and queries whether freeports will provide new advantages compared to the existing Customs Special Procedures, which from January 1, 2021, no longer need a guarantee to operate."
He said the additional GPB126 million (US$176 million) announced for apprenticeships and the raising of the cash incentive for employers to GBP3,000 may help BIFA's campaign to encourage companies to consider recruiting youngsters and enrolling them on the International Freight Forwarding specialist apprenticeship, which BIFA helped to create in 2018.
"However, there was no mention of the issues facing the aviation sector in either the announcement of the roadmap out of recovery, nor the Budget. This is a concern because a recovery in the passenger sector with an increasing number of flights carrying belly hold cargo will be necessary to allow the air cargo sector to fully recover," Mr Keen said.
Robert Keen, director general of BIFA, which represents the UK international freight services, said members of the association welcomed the news that the freeze in fuel duty will remain. "However, they would have preferred to see an outright cut, the introduction of an essential user rebate and some form of fuel duty stabilisation mechanism."
Commenting on the news that eight freeports would be introduced in East Midlands Airport, Felixstowe and Harwich, Humber, Liverpool City Region, Plymouth, Solent, Thames and Teesside, Mr Keen said: "To date, BIFA has been indifferent to this proposed development, and queries whether freeports will provide new advantages compared to the existing Customs Special Procedures, which from January 1, 2021, no longer need a guarantee to operate."
He said the additional GPB126 million (US$176 million) announced for apprenticeships and the raising of the cash incentive for employers to GBP3,000 may help BIFA's campaign to encourage companies to consider recruiting youngsters and enrolling them on the International Freight Forwarding specialist apprenticeship, which BIFA helped to create in 2018.
"However, there was no mention of the issues facing the aviation sector in either the announcement of the roadmap out of recovery, nor the Budget. This is a concern because a recovery in the passenger sector with an increasing number of flights carrying belly hold cargo will be necessary to allow the air cargo sector to fully recover," Mr Keen said.