Statement

FUEL DUTY INCREASES WILL HIT LOCAL PEOPLE HEAVILY SAYS WEIR 

Posted on: April 30, 2009

“The announcement by the Chancellor in the Budget that there are due to be further increases in Fuel Duty later this year will come as a bitter blow to many hard pressed families. This additional burden, at a time when many people are struggling to make ends meet, will place an unwelcome extra cost. This is particularly true in Northern Ireland in general, and many in North Down in particular, who are unable to have easy access to alternatives to public transport. Indeed, with the proposed fares rises announced this week by Translink, particularly on the main Bangor-Belfast line, there is no escape for anyone no matter what source of transport they use. 

I appreciate that the UK public finances are in a mess, but we have one of  the highest levels of fuel duty already in Europe, and even before these increases many constituents had already contacted me to indicate difficulty with the financial burden of this tax. This increase will only exacerbate this problem, as well as leading to increased criminal activity in terms of fuel smuggling. There is not even a light at the end of the tunnel, as the Government has indicted its intention to continue to raise fuel duty at above inflationary rates for the next few years. The Government has got to come to its senses, and realise that enough is enough, and that people in North Down and beyond are at breaking point.”