Leonard hits out at high fuel prices

EAST Derry Sinn Féin MLA Billy Leonard has welcomed news from his party colleague and Chair of the Finance and Personnel committee, Jennifer McCann, that she intends to call for a meeting with the major fuel suppliers to ascertain what they are doing to help reduce the high price of fuel at.

By The Newsroom

Published 20th May 2010, 11:22 BST

Updated 21st May 2010, 12:43 BST

Mr Leonard said: "The current and record peak of oil prices is placing a huge burden on both domestic and business users alike.

“The Consumer Council this week revealed that in May 2009, it cost 48.78 to fill a car with a 50litre tank with petrol and 50.99 with diesel. At the beginning of May 2010, it is 12.00 more expensive to fill with petrol and 10.57 for diesel

High fuel costs also have a greater impact on the likes of our constituency as by and large we depend more on our cars for travel and access to work.

Then we have the cost of heating our homes and the other areas where high oil prices have a direct and negative impact.

“We need to challenge the British government as the vast majority of the price of a litre of petrol is tax.

They need to reduce the tax burden to offset such increases.”

Sinn Fein Derry