Commenting on the Autumn Budget, Edmund King, AA president says
“This Budget avoids a fallout on the forecourts, and has set the
scene for the future of motoring.”
King continues:
ON CHANGES TO NEW DIESEL VEHICLE EXCISE
DUTY:
“It is unnecessary to realign the VED bands on new sales of
diesel cars. The current batch of Euro 6 diesels are much cleaner
than Euros 1 to 5 already on our roads.
“Diesel sales have slumped this year which shows that drivers are
already voting with their wheels. Currently 42% of AA members own
a diesel, this drops by 62% with only 16% saying they will buy a
diesel again as their next car. Consumers are already making a
conscious decision to buy cleaner cars so the new sales tax is
unnecessary.
“When new diesels meet the new Step 2 for Real Driving Emissions
tests (due to come in from 2020), the car will revert to the
previously published band. This is designed as a level to
encourage manufacturers to get their models to achieve the new
standards sooner.”
ON THE FREEZE IN FUEL DUTY:
“We welcome the Chancellor’s decision to keep Fuel Duty frozen
which will bring some relief at the pumps.
“The pump price of fuel is currently at a three-year high
(yesterday: petrol – 120.93p per litre, diesel – 123.33p per
litre), and so far this year has averaged 10p per litre higher
compared to last year. This has given the Government an extra
1.5p per litre in VAT.
“Any proposed increase in Fuel Duty would have hampered small and
medium businesses, as well as ordinary drivers.”
ON DRIVERLESS CARS:
“The Chancellor is right to be bold and ambitious in wanting to
deliver driverless cars on our roads within four years. However,
as well as ensuring they are thoroughly and conclusively tested
to ensure of their safety, infrastructural changes must run
alongside.”
ON INCREASED INVESTMENT IN CHARGING
INFRASTRUCTURE:
“We are pleased that the Chancellor has listened to our request
to improve electric vehicle infrastructure and committed an
additional £400 million investment to install charging points.
“The AA has been a champion of electric vehicles, and this step
will help drivers overcome their anxiety about buying an electric
vehicle. Currently eight out of 10 (82%) drivers say they are put
off of purchasing an electric vehicle because of the lack of
charging points. We hope today’s announcement will start to quash
this fear.
“We are pleased that in new housing developments, they will be a
requirement for electric vehicle charging and infrastructure.”
ON INCREASES TO THE EV GRANT:
“By increasing the Plug-in Car Grant by £100 million, the
Chancellor is showing he is willing to help drivers move across
into electric vehicles.
“The AA has been a leading the campaign to encourage drivers to
buy electric vehicles, and we are pleased the Government has
heeded our calls for more assistance in helping buy cleaner,
greener cars.”
ON THE FREEZE ON INSURANCE PREMIUM TAX:
“We are pleased that the Chancellor has decided not increased
Insurance Premium Tax, but we would have liked to have seen a
reduction in the rate.
“The current rate of 12% has already had a significant impact by
increasing the number of uninsured drivers to over one million.
On the journey to zero road deaths, being able to buy affordable
insurance is key in achieving this goal.”
ON THE ABOLITION OF SEVERN BRIDGE TOLLS:
"The abolition of the Severn crossing toll is welcome but is one
bridge too few. The Dartford crossing should also be free to use,
having been paid for years ago."
ends
