Accrington Web - View Single Post

fatman · 28-05-2004, 17:28

Here's a different view....

There is an email circulating the net encouraging people to boycott certain
petrol companies in the hope of bringing petrol prices down, before you
support it, perhaps you might like to consider this.

Here's a c&p from the Transport 2000 website.
http://www.transport2000.org.uk/

Chancellor must `stand firm` on fuel duty, says Transport 2000

News comment issued Tuesday 25 May 2004

Fuel protests are being threatened in response to September's planned increase in petrol and diesel duty of 1.9p/litre, 0.5p above inflation, as the price of crude oil currently reaches a high.

Confirming Transport 2000's support for the increase in fuel duty, Stephen Joseph, Director of Transport 2000, said: "We're obsessed with the price of fuel in this country as though the national mood depends on it. This increase in duty is needed to pay for better public transport and help bring down the cost differential between using cars and public transport. The Chancellor must stand firm against the protesters.

"What the current situation does show is our shocking dependence on imported
oil and our vulnerability as a result. By 2010 the UK will be a net importer
of energy for the first time in its history. It makes sense to reduce our
reliance on oil by reducing our use of cars. If we are serious about
tackling climate change too, then motoring will have to become significantly
more expensive. It might not go down well with motorists but they probably
ain't seen nothing yet. The real focus should be on reducing the cost of
using public transport. The Government should make a start by introducing a
national discount railcard."

Transport 2000 also said:

Since the last fuel protest in 2000 hauliers have seen Vehicle Excise Duty
on HGVs halved. Diesel duty has been frozen in real terms.

Fuel duty is higher in the UK than most other EU countries but the full
basket of motoring taxes, including fuel duty, purchase tax, VED and road
tolls, is about average.

The current oil situation and September's rise in duty will not affect the
poorest people because they don't have cars. Twenty-eight per cent of
households don't have access to a car.

Over the past 20 years the overall cost of motoring has in real terms
remained at or below the 1980 level while bus fares have risen by 31 per
cent and rail fares by 37 per cent. (Source: DfT Transport Trends 2002.)

The real cost of motoring fell by 4.8 per cent between 1997 and 2003. During
the same period the cost of travelling by train rose by 3 per cent and the
cost of travelling by bus rose by 8.2 per cent. (Source: House of Commons
Hansard April 2004.)

Climate scientists say we must cut global greenhouse emissions by 60 per
cent by 2050 if we are to avoid the worst of climate change. Road traffic is
responsible for around 20 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions in the UK and
rising.

28-05-2004, 17:28	#3
fatman Junior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2 Liked: 0 times Rep Power: 0	Re: Petrol Prices Here's a different view.... There is an email circulating the net encouraging people to boycott certain petrol companies in the hope of bringing petrol prices down, before you support it, perhaps you might like to consider this. Here's a c&p from the Transport 2000 website. http://www.transport2000.org.uk/ Chancellor must `stand firm` on fuel duty, says Transport 2000 News comment issued Tuesday 25 May 2004 Fuel protests are being threatened in response to September's planned increase in petrol and diesel duty of 1.9p/litre, 0.5p above inflation, as the price of crude oil currently reaches a high. Confirming Transport 2000's support for the increase in fuel duty, Stephen Joseph, Director of Transport 2000, said: "We're obsessed with the price of fuel in this country as though the national mood depends on it. This increase in duty is needed to pay for better public transport and help bring down the cost differential between using cars and public transport. The Chancellor must stand firm against the protesters. "What the current situation does show is our shocking dependence on imported oil and our vulnerability as a result. By 2010 the UK will be a net importer of energy for the first time in its history. It makes sense to reduce our reliance on oil by reducing our use of cars. If we are serious about tackling climate change too, then motoring will have to become significantly more expensive. It might not go down well with motorists but they probably ain't seen nothing yet. The real focus should be on reducing the cost of using public transport. The Government should make a start by introducing a national discount railcard." Transport 2000 also said: Since the last fuel protest in 2000 hauliers have seen Vehicle Excise Duty on HGVs halved. Diesel duty has been frozen in real terms. Fuel duty is higher in the UK than most other EU countries but the full basket of motoring taxes, including fuel duty, purchase tax, VED and road tolls, is about average. The current oil situation and September's rise in duty will not affect the poorest people because they don't have cars. Twenty-eight per cent of households don't have access to a car. Over the past 20 years the overall cost of motoring has in real terms remained at or below the 1980 level while bus fares have risen by 31 per cent and rail fares by 37 per cent. (Source: DfT Transport Trends 2002.) The real cost of motoring fell by 4.8 per cent between 1997 and 2003. During the same period the cost of travelling by train rose by 3 per cent and the cost of travelling by bus rose by 8.2 per cent. (Source: House of Commons Hansard April 2004.) Climate scientists say we must cut global greenhouse emissions by 60 per cent by 2050 if we are to avoid the worst of climate change. Road traffic is responsible for around 20 per cent of carbon dioxide emissions in the UK and rising.