The Manager of the Freight Transport Association has spoken out against an All Party Parliamentary Group’s idea to introduce a ‘fuel rationing scheme’.

Chris Welsh, of the FTA, said it was the economy that would suffer if the UK’s freight operators were made to pay extra for fuel: “If the government reduced tax, it would enable the freight industry to invest in cleaner technologies. It would mean we could train our drivers to drive more efficiently.”

The group of 20 parliamentarians from the main parties argue that limiting what drivers consume would deal with energy shortages and climate change.

Mr Welsh added that long term solutions were needed and that the freight industry was unfairly being targeted: “The European Lorry Road Charging Scheme differentiates between Heavy Goods Vehicles, which drive the economy, and everyday car users.”

The RAC Foundation has warned that fuel could cost as much as £1.75 a litre by the summer