Fuel costs affect us all, says FSB

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is urging the Government not to go ahead with a fuel duty increase of 2p per litre, planned for April 1 2008.

“Fuel prices are hurting small businesses and their customers in every sector and in every area of the country,” said Chris Glen, FSB Transport Chairman. “Now is not the time for the Government to be adding to their problems by increasing fuel duty. After a really tough year and several major tax increases, small businesses deserve a break.”

The garden centre and pet shop owner

Karen Baldwin, West Wales, said: “Our wholesalers have put up their costs because of fuel prices and one has stopped delivering to this area altogether. Often we have to drive long distances ourselves to get the things in stock that our customers want.”

The taxi driver

Doug Thorogood, East Sussex, said: “Increases in the amount I can charge customers are set by the local authority and these have been nowhere near the increases in my fuel costs. A little while ago I was spending about four hundred a month on fuel. Now, it’s more like five or six hundred.”

The contract cleaning company owner

Steve Brown, South Yorkshire, said: “We have seven vans, which we use to get to our customers all over the country. Our fuel bills have gone up by 14 percent in the past year. If there’s another increase in fuel duty we will have little choice but to pass this on to our customers.”

The haulier

Rachael Pickford, Wiltshire, said: “A couple of extra pennies on a litre of fuel in your car doesn’t sound like much, but when you’re talking about tens of thousands of litres it’s a different story. We’re paying up to a thousand pounds extra a month.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The FSB is Britain’s biggest business organisation with over 210,000 members. It exists to protect and promote the interests of the self-employed, and all those who run their own business. More information is available at www.fsb.org.uk.

Contacts:

For interviews with the business owners above, FSB Chief Spokesman Stephen Alambritis or other senior FSB personnel please contact the FSB Press Office.

FSB Press Office
Andrew Cave: 020 7592 8113 / 07917 628991
Simon Briault: 020 7592 8128 / 07917 628998
Belinda Webb: 020 7592 8121 / 07825 125 695

For regional FSB contacts please go to www.fsb.org.uk/regions