Esther McVey has urged Government to do more to reduce the price at the pumps and cut fuel by at least 20 pence a litre.
The Tatton MP said it would help both families and businesses, especially ones with large fuel costs such as hauliers.
Speaking in Treasury questions she called for action to ease the burden on the transportation companies.
Ms McVey said: “I appreciate the Chancellor cut fuel duty by five pence per litre but that didn’t really touch the sides, so can I urge him to be bolder and cut duty by at least 20 pence per litre as requested by Fair Fuel UK. This would make a huge difference to individuals and businesses in my patch, not least hauliers, where the cost of running a single truck has increased by 17 per cent in the last year.”
According to haulier companies their profit margins stand at about two per cent, but increases in fuel, driver wages, energy costs, compounded with a shortage of drivers, vehicles and parts could wipe out the little profit businesses make.
Ms McVey added: “Hauliers play a critical role in keeping the country moving and we need to look at ways to support them. One obvious solution is cutting the price of fuel and with the staggering increases in operating costs of 17 per cent per HGV, and the fact that when buying a litre of diesel half of the cost is tax, it seems a logical place to start.
“The local companies I have spoken to have been clear, there is no way hauliers can absorb extra costs. They are already operating under the severest of financial pressures and without action businesses will become unviable and put at risk the movement of essential goods.”
Government said it is committed to supporting businesses.
Treasury Minister Helen Whately said: “The combination of the freeze on fuel duty in the Budget and then the cut in the Spring statement is essentially £5 billion tax cut so this really is substantial support to businesses.
“I have also said we are taking further steps to support businesses with business rate cuts and our cut to National Insurance by increasing the employment allowance by £1,000 and supporting around half a million smaller businesses.”
Ms McVey said she will be pushing Government for a meeting to discuss all the issues raised with her by local hauliers.
