SIR – Despite the Road Haulage Association’s disappointment at the Office of Fair Trading decision not to pursue an investigation into fuel pricing, it welcomes their acknowledgement that the rise in pump prices for petrol and diesel over the last ten years has been mainly caused by higher crude oil prices and increases in tax and duty.

If that is the case, why is the Treasury not addressing the main cause for such high fuel prices in the UK – that of fuel duty?

For years the Road Haulage Association has been highlighting the high level of fuel tax paid by UK road hauliers. In particular, the knock-on effects that a single penny can have on their operating costs.

If in the Spring Budget the Chancellor decides to increase fuel duty by 2p per litre, for a road haulier that will mean cost increase, per vehicle, of more than £800 per year – a increase they will have no option but to pass on to the consumer.

The OFT report claims that for the average British household, fuel accounts for 4.5 per cent of the average weekly spend. For the haulier, the weekly fuel spend is more than 30 per cent. And, to add further insult to injury, we still face strong competition from our European counterparts, who are paying far less in fuel tax.

At a time when the UK economy is desperately trying to regain a level of financial stability, what better way of giving the green shoots of recovery a positive boost than by reducing fuel duty?

If you want to add your voice to those who are trying to lower fuel duty, add your name to the growing list of supporters at fairfuel uk.com. It won’t cost you a penny to sign up and it could save you a fortune.

Geoff Dunning, chief executive, Road Haulage Association