calls for action over rising energy and fuel costs

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Sunday, 10 August 2008
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has expressed deep concern regarding the profits being recorded by providers such as Centrica, Shell and BP while at the same time lamenting the impact of increases in the price of energy and fuel on its members. A third of FSB members work from home and are likely to suffer as much as domestic consumers from rising electricity and gas bills, while the price of fuel is a concern for all small businesses. The FSB is urging the government to intervene where possible through the introduction of an automatic adjustor mechanism, whereby extra tax revenues from higher than predicted oil prices would automatically trigger corresponding reductions in fuel duty. John Wright, FSB National Chairman said: “I am extremely concerned at the 35 per cent increase in prices from British Gas. This seems totally unfair when they made almost £1bn profit in the first half of this year. Obviously this increase will have an effect on small businesses that will either have to pass this on their customers or alternatively limit their expansion this year. “It is alarming to learn that while thousands of our members are suffering, some of these companies are reaching record profits. These are exceptional times and everyone should make sacrifices, including the petrol and gas companies. We would urge these companies to keep prices down as much as possible and to react to lower international oil prices as quickly as possible.”
Last Updated ( Sunday, 10 August 2008 )