APPENDIX 2
Memorandum from Woodrow's of Dunfermline
Ltd. Soft Drink Manufacturers
Woodrow's of Dunfermline Limited is a private
company and has been in business since 1912 initially as a partnership
and then a limited company from 1976. We manufacture soft drinks
and distribute our products along with beers and ciders on a fleet
of 30 delivery vehicles from our headquarters in Dunfermline and
a depot in Oban.
1. VEHICLE FUEL
COSTS
Scottish needs are different, our geography
is different and our transport infrastructure is much poorer than
south of the broader yet we have been penalised with the fuel
duty escalator brought in because of the runaway growth in the
use of the car south of the border. Scotland travels only half
as many miles by car as the rest of the U.K. per head of population.
The escalator has now been abandoned and a levy (details unknown)
is to be introduced.
Our fuel costs have increased 40 per cent in
the last three years and 100 per cent in the last six years, December
1993 to December 1999. This is unacceptable. The costs are even
higher for our Oban depot driving on many single-track roads.
2. STATISTICAL
INFORMATION/LEGAL
REQUIREMENTS
We have for some time been concerned that with
a relatively small administration department the requirement to
complete the various forms requested by, among others, the National
Statistics Office places an enormous burden on the time of our
staff. We have now recently been faced with yet another submission
required by the Scottish Executive and are worried about the increasing
amount of paperwork, which in our view, is unproductive use of
our time.
Also to be taken into account is the increasing
time required on employment, health and safety, waste packaging
and food hygiene legislation. While we appreciate the need for
all of these no compensation is given towards the cost of the
administration of these.
3. CLIMATE CHANGE
LEVY
Although we appreciate that the Chancellor has
taken steps in his Autumn Statement to reduce the impact of this
levy on manufacturing industries we are still anxious that this
is another cost to be borne by us.
4. BEVERAGE ALCOHOL
DUTY
The alcohol duty differences in our neighbouring
states leads to more and more cross-border trading, therefore
we must bring our duty into line with our European neighbours.
Woodrow's of Dunfermline Ltd.
January 2000
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