FLEETLEASE managing director Rob Whalley has written to Chancellor Gordon Brown urging him not to penalise company car drivers. As the fleet market braces itself for the Government to target the company car, Whalley has called for the Chancellor to adopt a 'hands-off' the company car approach in the Budget.

'Company car drivers are not the main culprits in causing environmental pollution,' said Whalley. 'It is older vehicles, which are less well maintained, that contribute most to road pollution. Penalising company car drivers in the Budget, either through adjustment of tax bands or reversing the list price system, could be disastrous.'

'By penalising company car drivers, we will almost certainly see a boost in the personal leasing market where the onus is more on the individual to maintain their own vehicles, a cost which many people don't want to absorb. This would have a detrimental effect on the environment with more cars being run to lower standards.'