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HMRC seems to be taking the plight of the 'at work' driver, using his or her company vehicle on business, to heart...
HMRC seems to be taking the plight of the 'at work' driver, using his or her company vehicle on business, to heart by introducing revised advisory fuel rates (AFRs) by waiving the traditional one month's notice of a change in rates. Whether employers implement the changes with immediate effect is another matter but even if their systems do not allow an immediate change they can apply them retrospectively back to June 1. Good news hopefully for the 'at work' driver.
Fuel prices have been concentrating the minds over recent weeks as rates have rocketed at the pumps with no sign of easing. At a time when Government is scrabbling, like the rest of the population, to make ends meet it must come as a welcome relief to the Chancellor to have an injection into the coffers thanks to fuel duty.
But what of the future? Don't expect fuel rates to drop significantly back down. The fact is that demand is being "fuelled" by the growing world economies so the simple economic law of supply and demand will prevail with the likes of India and China ensuring rates remain high.
The irony for us on our small island is that North Sea Oil can cover most of our requirements.
Government is caught between a rock and a hard place. Does it bow to the pressure of the road hauliers and reduce duty? Equally, does it win over the hearts and minds of the general population by reducing the duty as a vote catcher? Or does it stick to its guns to pursue a greener road to the future.
Clearly, at some point, it needs to make a stand. And Government should lead by example. The easy option is to abandon any green credentials it claims to hold and bow to outside pressure. That's usually what happens when it comes to green policies. But should this be the case?
We have been banging the drum for too long about the effects of global warming and the need for drastic action to be taken. We are very much at the crossroads in terms of our ultimate survival as a species on this planet, and very much at a crossroads when it comes to all of us putting our money where our mouth is. Namely, agreeing we need to change the habits of a lifetime.
Faced with rocketing energy costs, rising food bills, only the privileged few cannot have revised their personal budgets. Like it or not, we are facing a new dawn. One where we pay the true cost for the basics of keeping ourselves fed and warm, with a roof over our heads. Certainly, over the past few decades, most seem to have lost sight of the latter in their pursuit of personal gain through rising house prices.
We now have a reality check, and rather than moan about it, we need to look at it positively and see it as an opportunity to change our whole approach to life and business for the better. As fleet professionals, we should already be doing our bit by questioning whether a journey is really necessary and operating a more holistic fleet policy embracing public transport. We need Government, whatever its political persuasion, to take a firm stance and not be panicked into taking short-term solutions. We need an integrated green transport policy, and that means taking some unpopular political decisions.
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