UK and Irish diesel 'most expensive': IRTU
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UK AND IRISH diesel is the most expensive in Western Europe, according to International Road Transport Union figures.
With pump prices around Sop a litre in Ireland and 43p in the UK, the two are way above their nearest rival Austria which sells at around 39p a litre. Next is Finland and Switzerland at around 36p, then West Germany one penny cheaper and France at 34p.
The UK and Ireland compare even more starkly with Greece which sells at around 19p a litre, working from the IRTU figures. Above that there is Norway at 26p, Holland at 28p, Denmark and Luxembourg at 29p, and Italy at around 30p a litre.
The Road Haulage Association has slammed the penalties which British hauliers have to carry compared to the Continentals.
RHA international committee chairman Russ Peters said: "It just goes to show in.-genera] the costs to the British haulier are far more expensive than for European hauliers."
• There should be a decision by summer next year on the amount of duty free fuel lorries can take across borders, the EEC Commission has said.
At an EEC meeting last week there were attempts to increase the amount of duty free fuel which lorries carry in their tanks. But it was a tough problem.
As a first step France was willing to raise the limit to 300 litres hut the Germans were not in agreement.
They fear the cornpeti tiveness of their northern ports will be hit if Dutch hauliers are able to move goods cheaply into their country by road from Rotterdam.
the EEC Commission will make a new proposal concerning lorry fuel tanks and a decision has been promised by July 1 next year.