The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport's President, Richard Brown CBE FCILT, has urged the Chancellor to take the opportunity to review fuel taxation policies for drivers and hauliers.
Richard Brown said: 'There is no doubt that the widening differential between petrol and diesel prices on the forecourts has been a blow to all those people who invested in diesel powered cars. Diesel is significantly more economical, offers greater mileage per litre and is therefore a lower carbon emitter than 4-star petrol.
'By maintaining such a wide, negative differential between petrol and diesel, uncertainty about future car purchases has increased and confusing messages sent to the public about the need for them to take action to reduce carbon emissions.'
The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport represents over 19,000 managers at all levels in the logistics and transport chain and regularly produces informed reports on various aspects of policy.
Richard Brown, currently President of the CILT, is also CEO of Eurostar, the leading high speed rail service to Europe.
Richard Brown concludes: 'We urge the Chancellor, in his package of measures for transport, to look at this key pricing differential to see what can be done to encourage the general public to choose the best environmental and CO2 solutions.
'If the Chancellor is looking to alter fuel duty in his budget, he should ensure that the price gap between petrol and diesel is substantially reduced, or – better still – eliminated.'