MP's online fuel petition wins parliamentary debate

HARLOW MP Robert Halfon has secured a parliamentary debate on fuel tax after more than 100,000 people signed his online petition organised with FairFuel UK.

Mr Halfon has campaigned for months over the high cost of fuel. Now, following a lengthy battle, the go-ahead has finally been given for a three-hour debate in the main chamber of the House of Commons.

The debate is expected to be scheduled for a half day on Tuesday, November 15.

The e-petition, which was tabled by Mr Halfon, was one of the first to attract over 100,000 signatures.

"The rising cost of fuel is a major issue which affects everyone," he said. "I am delighted that the petition received such marvellous support and achieved the 100,000 names required to trigger a parliamentary debate in such a short time.”

Mr Halfon’s campaign has seen him address parliament, ask a question at Prime Minister’s Question Time and take part in a protest along Whitehall to Downing Street.

“We are facing a silent crisis as the cost of living is rocketing," he said. "Steadily, month by month, energy and petrol bills are crippling our economy.

”Figures from the Royal Automobile Club show that the average motorist in Harlow is getting fleeced for £1,700 a year just to fill up the family car. This is one tenth of the average local salary."

He added that the Government defined fuel povert” as spending a tenth of your income heating your home. "What about spending a tenth of your income just driving to work?

“The case for cheaper petrol is not just popular; it is good economics, too. Experts at the LSE have published research showing that our soaring petrol prices are contributing to UK unemployment.

“Added to that, the high price is creating a poverty trap, as people can't afford the costs of getting to work. In fact, petrol is now so hugely expensive, that it is costing the Government money. This is because fewer people can afford to drive, leading to lower tax revenues.

“Figures from the AA show that the Treasury received £1bn less in revenue from petrol taxes in the last six months compared to 2008. If this is true, it is disastrous. We urgently need a study of petrol taxes by the Treasury, to see whether high fuel taxes are actually making it harder to close the deficit.

“We need no new fuel taxes in this Parliament. The 4p duty rises that are planned for January and August 2012 must be scrapped and the Government needs to pressure the oil companies to keep prices down.”