Motorists continue to pay a lot at the pump, despite drop in the cost of oil

Published on Tuesday 14 June 2011 19:09

Major fuel companies are continuing to inflate their prices despite the cost of oil falling, an MP has claimed.

Conservative MP Robert Halfon led a debate in Westminster Hall yesterday to discuss the high price of fuel, despite a recent fall in oil prices.

Mr Halfon said: "The cost of petrol and diesel is the number one issue in my constituency and across the UK.

"Motorists and businesses are genuinely suffering and the high fuel price is an obstacle to bringing jobs back and getting our economy moving again.

"The oil price is falling internationally, but hard-pressed British motorists, businesses and road freight companies are still paying inflated prices at the pump.

"That's why I have written to all the major energy companies, to ask if they will lower their prices across the country."

Treasury minister Justine Greening said the previous Labour government had left the coalition facing the introduction of a fuel escalator, which would have resulted in seven increases in duty.

She said: "This could have resulted in pump prices being 6p a litre higher now while there was no plan in place to support motorists," she said.

"We as a government recognise that motoring is an essential part of life for households and businesses.

"Fuel costs are something that affect us all and in fact as the rising price of petrol has continued, those costs have become a more and more significant part of everyday life for people and companies."