FUEL PRICES

Motion Text

That this House notes with concern that, notwithstanding the Autumn Statement, the pump price of diesel has increased by a further 4 pence per litre since that statement, causing a further devastating erosion of the viability and competitiveness of hauliers and other business; notes that the present price of diesel is 55 pence per litre in France, 54 pence per litre in Belgium and 48 pence per litre in Luxembourg; and calls on the Government to pursue with urgency within the European Union initiatives to establish a common level of duty and tax on diesel and petrol so as to achieve a level playing field for United Kingdom business and in the meantime to introduce a regulatory regime to control the pump prices of diesel by use of a variable rate of duty, thereby holding the pump price to 1999 levels for the next 12 months.