Company car tax

Sir,

Many of your readers must have Company cars. I have seen no protests from them yet in your excellent magazine at the Conservative Government’s proposed swingeing increases in “Taxable Benefit Scale Charges” starting April 6th 1982. In essence, this “political” taxing of management’s so-called company car perk means:—

Hardest hit will be middle management in private companies, like myself. Yet we are the very people the Conservative Prime Minister exhorts to help restore this country financially. Most noticeable saris that our Conservative Prime Minister has hulked taxing all the other perks such as virtually free worldwide air flights, cheap or free coal, nearly free rail travel, very cheap money borrowing. Could it be that these are enjoyed mainly by so-called “staff and shop floor” and not management?

I wonder if she and her “Think Tank” have considered the effect on our car manufacturers and their related suppliers? Presently I have an over 2,000 c.c. British car. When due for renewal I should look for a top quality, high performance 1,300 c.c. car. This most likely will have to be foreign. Just hope business passengers can squeeze in!

Sobering too is the knowledge that being in a private company that is not State aided or subsidised and cannot run at a trading loss in fact docks and shipping), our annual salaries increases are less than the annual rate of inflation. Perhaps like miners, amongst others, we should threaten strike action in advance each year.

If this letter smacks of envy and sour grapes, it is also tinged by sadness at the Conservative Government’s proposed action. I helped to elect them!

Dovercourt, Essex M. W. TRENERRY