In Budget 2015 the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the fuel duty freeze would continue.
George Osborne said:
“Budget 2015 builds on the support provided by the government to motorists over this Parliament. The Fuel Duty increase by RPI planned for 1 September 2015, due to be 0.54 pence per litre, will be cancelled.”
Responding to the news Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said:
“With fuel duty revenue making up 5% of the Treasury’s tax income there was never going to be a huge giveaway as the Chancellor still desperately needs motorists’ money.
“But with the latest figures showing that almost a million of the poorest households see a quarter of what they spend go on buying and running a car this freeze is still welcome.
“The cost of driving is the third highest transport priority amongst voters despite price falls at the pumps over the past six months and it would be a mistake for politicians to think the cost of filling up is no longer an issue. In the last few weeks oil prices have rebounded and this has a significant and immediate impact on motorists’ pockets.”
Historical duty rates:
|
Date of change |
Petrol and Diesel duty rate (ppl) |
Previous rate (ppl) |
|
23.03.2011 |
57.95 |
58.95 |
|
01.01.2011 |
58.95 |
58.19 |
|
01.10.2010 |
58.19 |
57.19 |
|
01.04.2010 |
57.19 |
56.19 |
According to last December’s Autumn Statement the continued freeze in fuel duty since 2011 will have saved the “typical motorists £675 by the end of 2015/16.” The document also said:
“The price based trigger point for changes to both the supplementary charge and fuel duty, set by the Fair Fuel Stabiliser in 2011, will be abolished.”
The amount collected from fuel duty – about £27 billion per annum – equals about 5% of all taxation.
One in every £13 spent by the average household goes on owning running a car and is higher in poorer households.
The next expected duty rise was to have been September 2015 when we would have seen a RPI (currently 1.1%) increase, plus VAT – a total of about 0.65p
Oil prices:
Current – $51.68
Recent low (14/1/15) – $45.26
ENDS
Contacts:
RAC Foundation:
Philip Gomm – Head of External Communications
[email protected] | 020 7747 3445 | 020 7389 0601 (ISDN) | 07711 776448
Notes to editors:
The RAC Foundation is a transport policy and research organisation that explores the economic, mobility, safety and environmental issues relating to roads and their users. The Foundation publishes independent and authoritative research with which it promotes informed debate and advocates policy in the interest of the responsible motorist.
The RAC Foundation is a registered charity, number 1002705.