Minister draws battle lines in fair fuel fight
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By Christopher Walton THE GOVERNMENT has refused to give ground over the issue of high fuel prices despite FairFuelUK’s e-petition passing the crucial 100,000th signature mark last week, which ensures a debate on the issue will now take place in Parliament.
Speaking at the Freight Transport Association’s (FTA) Fringe Event at the Conservative Party Conference, Minister for State Theresa Villiers (pictured) effectively ruled out cutting fuel tax to stimulate the economy, while conceding the price of fuel was “an issue with which ministers grapple with daily” . “The government is aware that fuel duty is a complex issue, and doesn’t need protests [as a reminder],” said Villiers. “But those who are devastated by [the price of fuel] would be equally as devastated if we did not deal with the deicit.” She added that she would “love it” if she or the Chancellor in his autumn pre-budget report could announce a cut in fuel-duty, but insisted a tax cut would lead to a rise in interest rates that was “just not an alternative” . FairFuelUK spokesman Quentin Willson countered that the current high levels of fuel duty were “iscal insanity” and businesses were being harmed by fuel duty that was 24ppl higher than the average in countries using the Euro.
James Hookham, policy director at the FTA, adds: “We need to put money back into the economy and stimulate consumer behaviour.” Road Haulage Association chief executive Geoff Dunning insists: “Recent igures from a leading motoring organisation suggest that a cut in duty might actually increase the government’s tax revenue as a result of the increased tax yield from economic growth.”