The Chancellor of the Exchequer has cancelled the planned fuel duty rise in today’s Budget, saving 3.6 million motorists in the East of England over £170 every year.

Because of Government action, pump prices will now be 13 pence per litre lower than if the previous administration had remained in power. For a Vauxhall Astra that is £7 less every time families fill up the tank – or £9 less for a Mondeo. A van driver will save £340 per year and a haulier will save £5,200 per year.

Fuel duty will now have been frozen for nearly three and half years - the longest freeze in duty for over 20 years.

Mr Aldous argues that people living in rural and periphery areas such as Lowestoft and Waveney will be particularly relieved:

Mr Aldous’ analysis has shown that:

• Waveney residents travel an average of 400 miles a month to get to work compared to 160 miles in the City of London; 209 miles in Kensington and Chelsea; 275 miles in Cambridge.


• This means that monthly fuel costs for those living in Waveney are an average of £70, more than double that in the City of London (£28); £36 in Kensington and Chelsea and £48 in Cambridge.


• With average wages in Waveney at £444 per month compared to £792 in the City of London; £733 in Kensington and Chelsea; and £609 in Cambridge, Waveney residents are less able to afford high fuel prices.

Mr Aldous also points out that this is only part of the picture as people in rural areas have further to travel to access vital public services such as schools and hospitals and have far less access to public transport:
 

• In rural areas overall, 39.2% of the population live within a short enough travel time of primary schools by foot or public transport to make them likely to make the journey, compared to 44.3% in urban areas.


• In contrast, 16.7% of users in rural areas live within a short enough travel time of hospitals to make them likely to make the journey, compared with 31.6% elsewhere.

Mr Aldous welcomed the news, saying:

‘This is a Budget that is delivering for families who want to work hard and get on in life.

‘Scrapping another fuel duty increase will make a big difference to motorists in Waveney, many of whom have no choice but to use their vehicles to get to work or for their businesses.

‘This Government has frozen fuel duty for three and a half years - longer than any Government in the last two decades - and saving the average family £7 every time they fill up their car.’