The text Budget 2016 appearing behind torn brown paper.
The text Budget 2016 appearing behind torn brown paper.
The text Budget 2016 appearing behind torn brown paper.

OBR’s comments on continued EU membership reflect worries for global couriers

The international parcel broker ParcelHero has welcomed the freezing of fuel duty. Says its Head of Consumer Research, David Jinks MILT: ’With the basic price of fuel being at an historic low, raising fuel duty might have seemed like quite a painless option for the Chancellor; but any increase would have been reflected in increased fuel surcharges by delivery companies, making the cost of delivering items more expensive and hitting SME traders hardest. It’s welcomes news this anticipated rise will not happen.’

ParcelHero also welcomes the news that more than £230m has been earmarked for road improvements in the north of England, including upgrades to M62 and upgrades of A66-A69. Says David: ‘Congestion in the North of England increases delivery times and unnecessary emissions. The new infrastructure improvements will help UK couriers speed up deliveries while further reducing the industries carbon footprint.’

Adds David: ‘The halving of the toll for the Severn crossing is also welcome news and we hope consumers will see that reflected in costs of sending items to and from Wales.’

There was also some good news for the many SMEs and online marketplace traders who use ParcelHero’s parcel broker service. The annual threshold for small business tax relief is to be raised from £6,000 to a maximum of £15,000, exempting 600,000 firms; and the headline rate of corporation tax – currently 20% – is to fall to 17% by 2020.

Concludes David: ‘It should be noted that the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) based its growth figures on continued membership of the European Union. ParcelHero believes this is vital for businesses and customers regularly trading and sending items to the rest of the Union. ParcelHero’s research suggests leaving the EU would add 30% to the price of an average item sent from remaining EU countries.’