Business leaders in Oxfordshire are urging the Chancellor to use the pre-Budget statement to announce a massive investment in the UK economy, writes David Duffy.
The Oxfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry says Gordon Brown has a 1.5bn fuel tax windfall which he should use to give hard-pressed businesses a major boost.
The chamber is calling on the Chancellor to cut both fuel duty and vehicle excise duty and also to target relief at rural areas, as part of a package of measures to help reduce business transport costs.
Chamber policy manager Andy Corrigan said: "The message that's coming back loud and clear from our members is that the vast majority want a reduction in fuel duty.
"But we're also urging the Chancellor to target the money he's collected because of the petrol price hike at some of those, like hauliers and people in rural communities, who've been hardest hit."
The chamber is asking the Chancellor to consider reducing Vehicle Excise Duty, possibly to the legal EU minimum for commercial vehicles, from an average 3,750 to 420.
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