BAR welcomes the support provided to the removals and storage sector by the Chancellor in the Spring Budget. However, it could have gone further.
Responding to the Spring Budget, in which the Chancellor announced a series of measures focused on enterprise, energy, employment and levelling up, the British Association of Removers (BAR), has welcomed some of the interventions.
Ian Studd, Director General, BAR, said; “I am delighted that the Chancellor has listened and responded to one of the asks detailed in our Budget Manifesto – freezing fuel duty for a further 12-months and maintaining the 5ppl duty reduction which had been due to end in April. I also welcome ‘full expensing’ – a replacement to the super deduction meaning that investments made by businesses on qualifying plant and machinery over the next three years, will qualify for a 100% first-year allowance for main rate assets”.
He added; “Whilst there is some good news for members today, the Chancellor has overlooked several interventions that our industry desperately needs such as additional support to manage rising business rates and extending a commitment to help them with their energy costs”.
BAR is the trade association for the professional removals and storage sector and represents more than 400 specialist UK-based companies across 600 sites as well as over 250 international associates worldwide.
The Association published a Budget Manifesto in February asking the Chancellor to support its members across a wide range of challenges including business rates, housing market reform, energy bill relief and fuel duty.
Ian concluded; “There has never been a more challenging time to operate a compliant and professional business in this sector and today shows that the Chancellor does not fully recognise the essential service our members provide to facilitate housing market transactions, a critical driver of our economy.
Removals and storage businesses face growing competition from unregulated operators in small, often poorly maintained vehicles, who exploit tax and VAT rules and who offer no consumer protections. More support for our members today would have helped them to compete against the unregulated part of our industry, which makes it harder for those who do the right thing to stay in business”.
