23 March 2011
Fuel duty cut will deepen UK's dependence on oil
Transform Scotland [1] today criticised the Chancellor George Osborne's decision to cut fuel taxes in today's UK Budget.
Colin Howden, Director of Transform Scotland, said:
"The Coalition Government claimed it wanted to be the greenest ever. [2] It has instead demonstrated itself to be entirely under the thumb of the aviation and roads lobbies. It is deeply irresponsible to cut fuel duty at a time when greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector continue to rise.
"In the face of depleting global oil reserves, Osborne's attempts to prop up cheap car use will be about as effective as Canute's efforts to hold back the tides. With fuel prices due to continue their rise as oil becomes more scarce, the only useful response is to reduce society's dependence on fossil fuels. Regrettably there is nothing in this Budget which will help the sustainable modes of transport compete with private motor transport.
"While the fuel price stabiliser may reduce volatility of fuel prices, it will not tackle the long-term increase in the price of fuel due to increased oil scarcity."
ENDS
Notes to Editors
[1] Transform Scotland is the national sustainable transport alliance, bringing together rail, bus and shipping operators, local authorities, national environment and conservation groups, businesses and local transport groups - see <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/members.aspx> for details.
[2] See <http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/may/14/cameron-wants-greenest-government-ever>.
[3] See <http://www.transformscotland.org.uk/cutting-fuel-duty-would-deepen-our-dependence-on-oil.aspx> for more background information, including links to Green Alliance and Policy Studies Institute reports on fuel duty.
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