The Freight Transport Association is making a submission to the Chancellor of the Exchequer later this week following the publication of European Commission statistics that show duty on diesel in the UK is over twice the European average. The EC Oil Bulletin 1243 refers to duty levels at 21 December 2004. It shows that at £470.73 per 1,000 litres, the UK tops the European league and compares with the European average of £222.23p per 1,000 litres. In its submission to the Chancellor the FTA states that diesel duty must continue to be frozen in the spring Budget.

The next highest diesel duty rate in Europe is in Germany at £325.45p per 1,000 litres, followed by France at £288.43p per 1,000 litres. By contrast the lowest level is in Latvia at £149.07p per 1,000 litres, then Greece at £169.50p per 1,000 litres.

Maximum weight 44-tonne lorries operating on UK roads delivering goods and services for industry and consumers each pay over £25,000 a year in fuel duty. Vehicle Excise Duty is an additional and separate tax. FTA says that the regime of high fuel duty on essential movements of industry's vehicles places the UK at a competitive disadvantage with the rest of Europe.

The duties detailed above are sourced from the EC Oil Bulletin 1243 and refer to duty levels as at 21 December 2004.