Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment he has made on the implications for his policies of the effect of rising fuel prices on the viability of independent (a) road haulage and (b) coach businesses.
The Secretary of State announced in the Spring further funding to support the local transport system and he continues to regularly engage with Cabinet colleagues to consider what further support Government can provide in these challenging times. Following 12 consecutive freezes on fuel duty, the Chancellor recently announced a 12-month cut to fuel duty of 5p per litre and the Business Secretary has recently asked the Competition and Market Authority to undertake an urgent review of fuel prices which is underway.