Long term solutions needed to solve fuel problems - Cable

5.21.50pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 14th Sep 2005

Commenting on the fuel price protests, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable MP said:

"There is clearly a global problem with fuel supply and increasing demand, however any action the Government can take to release oil reserves and protect essential services is welcome.

"Hauliers have a genuine grievance with the Government who have backed down on the proposed Britdisc which would have equalised fuel prices for EU trucks in Britain. They deserve to be treated better.

"In the long term these problems will only be solved by scrapping fuel duty and introducing road user pricing. We need to look at ways in which we can be less reliant on oil and use more renewable energy sources."