Paisley backs campaign to reduce fuel duty

In a statement, Mr. Paisley said: “At the moment the government levies some 80p on every litre of petrol. This is having a damaging impact both on hard-working families and on the Northern Ireland economy.

“As Chairman of the Assembly Agriculture Committee I know of the very negative impact that the high rate of Fuel Duty is having on our farming communities. The rate of fuel poverty in Northern Ireland is three times higher than that of England.

“As a peripheral region of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland’s fuel prices are already higher than the rest of the UK in order to cover transportation costs, so a cut in Fuel Duty would have an even bigger impact here than in the rest of the United Kingdom. Fuel Duty should be reduced by 50p per litre to 30p.

“That would bring the price of a litre of petrol down from 1.20 to 70p. The government will still be benefitting from Fuel Duty but at a reduced rate whilst Northern Ireland people who are struggling will be assisted. In the next parliament, the DUP MPs will be pressing very hard to see the level of Fuel Duty come down.”