Budget 2013: Motoring groups welcome decision to scrap fuel duty increase for ‘hard-pressed’ drivers

Hard-pressed motorists received some good news today when Chancellor George Osborne scrapped the fuel duty increase planned for autumn 2013.

The rise would have put around 3p a litre on to the already-high price of petrol and diesel at the pumps.

Mr Osborne’s announcement, which had been widely expected, was welcomed by motoring groups.

AA president Edmund King said: “A September fuel duty hike would have been the last straw likely to break UK drivers’ budgets and would have led to a summer of discontent.

“The scrapping is a pragmatic move and will bring some relief at the pumps. Already 76% of AA members are cutting back on journeys, household expenditure or both, due to the high cost of fuel.”

Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said: “This news provides breathing space for families being smothered by the soaring costs of motoring, especially the 800,000 households spending more than a quarter of their income on operating a vehicle.

“Through this move the Chancellor will lose about £1 billion a year in duty and VAT income, but tens of thousands of people will be saved from being forced to give up their cars against a backdrop of generally rising running costs.

“It is welcome that George Osborne has listened to the concerns of the nation’s 35 million motorists about the inflammatory issue of near-record pump prices.”

Miranda Schunke, spokeswoman for breakdown company Green Flag, said: “We welcome the Government’s decision.

“Household budgets are already being stretched to the limit with the spiralling cost of living. While the cost of motoring is a constant concern, it will be a relief to millions of motorists that there is some respite against the escalating financial burden of owning and running a car.”