The Alliance of Eight Associations Write to Chancellor

The Eight Associations Call on the Chancellor to Scrap Vehicle Excise Duty Increases and Suspend the Climate Change Levy

The Alliance of Eight Associations representing the plastics, rubber, coatings and associated machinery and tool making sector have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling M.P. to offer views and proposals for his Pre-Budget Statement.

The Associations’ members have mixed experiences in the slowdown, but most expect to shed staff. The interest rate cut is welcomed and more hoped for.

The Associations expressed concern on the high level of public borrowing, even before the financial crisis. They hope, “the manufacturing sector will not have to endure tax increases to pay for the financial sector’s foolishness.”

The Eight Associations proposals:
•    Expand social ownership through Housing Associations taking up unsold properties
•    Do not increase Fuel Duty next April and cancel the VED increases.
•    Due to the huge rise in Energy costs – suspend the Climate Change Levy for a year. Suspend the introduction of the Carbon Reduction Commitment.
•    Speed up investment and planning in new nuclear power stations, wind power, and Energy from Waste plants.
•    Raise the cap on Capital Allowances to £250k and reduce and simplify Corporation Tax.

A spokesman for the Eight Associations said, “With the financial turmoil and the risk of a serious recession this is a very important Statement to be given by the Chancellor. Our sensible proposals would reduce the taxation burden on our companies at a critical time.”

ENDS . . .

For further information on this press release, please contact Philip Batten, British Plastics Federation, 6 Bath Place, Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3JE, tel 020 7457 5000, fax 020 7457 5045, email: [email protected]

Notes for editors
1)     British Plastics Federation (BPF) is the UK trade association for the plastics industry – representing the whole supply chain including polymer producers, distributors, additives suppliers, machinery manufacturers, processors and recyclers.
2) The Eight Associations are:
British Plastics Federation, BPF   
British Rubber & Polyurethane Products Association, BRPPA
British Coatings Federation, BCF
Packaging & Films Association, PAFA
Gauge & Toolmakers Association, GTMA
Polymer Machinery Manufacturers & Distributors Association, PMMDA
Scottish Plastics & Rubber Association, SPRA
Northern Ireland Polymers Association, NIPA