Wells MP James Heappey has called on Chancellor Philip Hammond to cut fuel duty in tomorrow’s Autumn Statement – and put more money in the pockets of people in Somerset. He is also urging the Chancellor to set up a powerful PumpWatch watchdog to stop motorists in getting ripped off at the forecourt by big oil companies.
Mr Heappey was among more than 50 MPs who have signed a letter to Mr Hammond, urging him to help hard-pressed families and small businesses by cutting fuel duty and introducing a regulator that will stop petrol stations increasing the pump price rapidly when oil prices rise but not being equally quick to cut prices when the oil price falls.
“Too often drivers from across Somerset are taken for a ride by the big oil companies. They feel fuel prices rise like a rocket but fall like a feather” said Mr Heappey.
“People are getting ripped off at the pumps and I’d like the Chancellor to do something about that by cutting fuel duty and making sure that oil companies must be more transparent in the way they share the fluctuations in the oil price with the consumer.
Last week, Mr Heappey joined MPs from across the country in presenting a petition to the Treasury calling for action on petrol prices. The Chancellor will announce his decision in his Autumn Statement which will be delivered to Parliament on Wednesday 23rd November.