Philip Hammond To Meet Haulage Industry Representatives In Dover

Philip Hammond, Conservative Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury, will be in Dover on Thursday 12th June at the invitation of Charlie Elphicke, the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, to talk to leading local haulage industry representatives about the problems their industry is having to deal with today.

Charlie says: "Many people locally tell me that the UK haulage industry faces unfair competition from rivals in the European Union. Lorry tax discs, high safety standards and fuel duties weigh on our businesses, whereas often they do not weigh so heavily on those from Europe. They come into Britain with extra fuel tanks, never to fill up, while our businesses face numerous additional toll charges on the continent for which no relief is available.

"I understand these concerns - but more than that, I think action is needed to level the playing field. So I have invited Philip Hammond who is responsible for tax policy in the Shadow Cabinet to come to Dover and hear for himself the concerns of the haulage industry and understand the steps that the industry would like to be taken to level the playing field."

The visit will begin with a tour of the Dover depot of Coombe Valley Transport where they will be shown around by Martin Husk.