DIESEL PRICES

That this House notes the oral evidence given by Mr Damian McBride to the Public Administration Select Committee on 27 February 2013, where he stated that he had explored changing the specification of ultra low sulphur diesel but was blocked by HM Customs and Excise on the grounds that 'there are some technical and administrative things that are nothing to do with Ministers'; further notes Mr McBride's evidence that manufacturers had to continue blending expensive kerosene (heating fuel) with their diesel compound and that the impact of this was to drive up the price of diesel in the winter months by 3 or 4 pence per litre, due to supply shortages; concludes that a relaxed diesel specification could help to reduce the price significantly at the pumps; and therefore calls on the Government to consider doing this, especially as the poorest families are trapped in petrol poverty, with some spending 27 per cent of their income on car costs.