Menu
28/05/2008
Brown Talks Fuel With Industry Chiefs
The Prime Minister and the Chancellor are to meet oil industry leaders today to discuss spiralling fuel costs.
Yesterday lorry drivers staged protests to demand cuts on diesel to salvage the British haulage industry.
Police say that 100 lorries took part in the protests although there are reports that it was closer to 300.
Mr Brown has told The Guardian Newspaper: "I know that families up and down the country are feeling the impact in the cost of filling up at the petrol station and the rise in gas and electricity bills.
"Our goal that Britain becomes a low-carbon economy is now an economic priority as well as an environmental imperative."
He added that the "development of renewable energy sources must be accelerated and the efficiency of the oil market improved".
Liberal Democrat spokesman Vince Cable told BBC Radio 4's Today programme in regards to the 2p fuel duty rise: "We have to wait until the autumn and we have to see what conditions are like."
He added that "there's no point rushing ahead with a decision on that" and that "it may be that the world oil price will fall very substantially in the intervening months and the problem will seem to have dissipated somewhat".
The government is now under pressure from its own backbenchers to scrap plans to increase road tax on higher polluting cars.
Senior Cabinet officials have insisted that the Prime Minister is taking on board people's outrage at plans to increase vehicle excise duty - expected to affect almost 18 million people.
Mr Brown and Mr Darling will meet representatives of oil companies in north-east Scotland to establish what they need in order to increase production.
The Prime Minister has said that the winter fuel allowance, free insulation for over 75s and a £150 million programme to help poverty stricken people with fuel bills will all help the situation.
There are also plans to insulate another five million homes and give three million more access to free energy-efficient products.
In the US, oil has sky rocketed from $10 a barrel to $135 today in the space of a decade.
(DS)
Yesterday lorry drivers staged protests to demand cuts on diesel to salvage the British haulage industry.
Police say that 100 lorries took part in the protests although there are reports that it was closer to 300.
Mr Brown has told The Guardian Newspaper: "I know that families up and down the country are feeling the impact in the cost of filling up at the petrol station and the rise in gas and electricity bills.
"Our goal that Britain becomes a low-carbon economy is now an economic priority as well as an environmental imperative."
He added that the "development of renewable energy sources must be accelerated and the efficiency of the oil market improved".
Liberal Democrat spokesman Vince Cable told BBC Radio 4's Today programme in regards to the 2p fuel duty rise: "We have to wait until the autumn and we have to see what conditions are like."
He added that "there's no point rushing ahead with a decision on that" and that "it may be that the world oil price will fall very substantially in the intervening months and the problem will seem to have dissipated somewhat".
The government is now under pressure from its own backbenchers to scrap plans to increase road tax on higher polluting cars.
Senior Cabinet officials have insisted that the Prime Minister is taking on board people's outrage at plans to increase vehicle excise duty - expected to affect almost 18 million people.
Mr Brown and Mr Darling will meet representatives of oil companies in north-east Scotland to establish what they need in order to increase production.
The Prime Minister has said that the winter fuel allowance, free insulation for over 75s and a £150 million programme to help poverty stricken people with fuel bills will all help the situation.
There are also plans to insulate another five million homes and give three million more access to free energy-efficient products.
In the US, oil has sky rocketed from $10 a barrel to $135 today in the space of a decade.
(DS)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
22 February 2013
Fuel Shortage Fears As BP Tanker Strike Begins
A potential BP fuel shortage is feared as 40 of the company’s tanker drivers begin a three-day strike over a pension and pay dispute. The drivers, based at the Grangemouth oil refinery west of Edinburgh, are in dispute after BP transferred 15 drivers who specialise in supplying aviation fuel to airports to work for the delivery firm DHL.
Fuel Shortage Fears As BP Tanker Strike Begins
A potential BP fuel shortage is feared as 40 of the company’s tanker drivers begin a three-day strike over a pension and pay dispute. The drivers, based at the Grangemouth oil refinery west of Edinburgh, are in dispute after BP transferred 15 drivers who specialise in supplying aviation fuel to airports to work for the delivery firm DHL.
12 November 2012
MPs To Vote On Fuel Rise Delay
MPs will vote on Monday evening on plans to increase fuel duty by 3 pence a litre in January. Labour have said "it would be wrong" to bring the new rise in s soon an want it delayed until at least April. Conservative MPs concerned about the cost of petrol said they believed Chancellor George Osborne was "in listening mode" over the issue.
MPs To Vote On Fuel Rise Delay
MPs will vote on Monday evening on plans to increase fuel duty by 3 pence a litre in January. Labour have said "it would be wrong" to bring the new rise in s soon an want it delayed until at least April. Conservative MPs concerned about the cost of petrol said they believed Chancellor George Osborne was "in listening mode" over the issue.
19 March 2008
Countdown For Fuel Payments For Pensioners
Over 60s who haven't yet claimed the Winter Fuel Payment have just days to get in touch with The Pension Service to receive help with energy costs. Pensions Minister Mike O'Brien urged older people to get their claim forms in the post before 28 March. The Winter Fuel Payment is £200 for the over 60s rising to £300 for the over 80s.
Countdown For Fuel Payments For Pensioners
Over 60s who haven't yet claimed the Winter Fuel Payment have just days to get in touch with The Pension Service to receive help with energy costs. Pensions Minister Mike O'Brien urged older people to get their claim forms in the post before 28 March. The Winter Fuel Payment is £200 for the over 60s rising to £300 for the over 80s.
19 November 2003
Over 80s offered extra £100 for winter fuel payments
Around 2 million households in the UK with someone aged 80 plus will automatically receive £100 on top of the £200 Winter Fuel Payment, it has been announced today. This winter about 8 million households, some 11.5 million people, will benefit from the £200 Winter Fuel Payment, worth around £4 a week.
Over 80s offered extra £100 for winter fuel payments
Around 2 million households in the UK with someone aged 80 plus will automatically receive £100 on top of the £200 Winter Fuel Payment, it has been announced today. This winter about 8 million households, some 11.5 million people, will benefit from the £200 Winter Fuel Payment, worth around £4 a week.
20 August 2003
New applications urged for winter fuel payments
It may be warm now, but Pensions Minister Malcolm Wicks today urged older people who have not previously received a Winter Fuel Payment to apply for assistance as new applications received before 19 September will get their payment in time for Christmas.
New applications urged for winter fuel payments
It may be warm now, but Pensions Minister Malcolm Wicks today urged older people who have not previously received a Winter Fuel Payment to apply for assistance as new applications received before 19 September will get their payment in time for Christmas.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Dry with clear skies this evening. Patchy cloud will increase at times overnight, but some clear spells too. Light winds and some patchy shallow mist or fog towards dawn. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
