Fuel industry needs to get their own house in order rather than 'constantly asking the Government' to step in

The fuel industry needs to get their own house in order rather than “constantly asking the Government to step in”, the Chair of the Transport Select Committee has said.

The ongoing fuel crisis has seen large queues across the UK and brawls on forecourts, as it was reported that around 90 per cent of petrol stations had run out of fuel in some areas.

The shortages, caused by a lack of HGV drivers, has seen the Government put 150 soldiers on standby to help deliver diesel and petrol, although the Chair of the Transport Select Committee has said that the problem comes from the industry itself.

Speaking to the Today programme, Conservative MP Huw Merriman said deploying soldiers was “not ideal” and that they would be better used elsewhere.

He added: “Let's just remember here, the Government doesn't drive the drivers to the forecourt.”

“This is a private industry, I remember back in 2016 asking them what they were going to do to fix their industry, why is it that only one percent of all drivers are women, why is it that only two per cent of all drivers are under 25, why is the average age 55.

“Let’s now hear from the industry about what they’re going to do to get their own industry in order rather than just constantly asking the Government to step in.”

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Mr Merriman went on to say that he "does not agree" with the idea that Brexit is responsible for the crisis, adding that Germany and Poland are seeing a shortage of drivers despite remaining in the bloc.

It comes after reports that critical workers would be given exclusive access to certain petrol stations to ease the fuel crisis under an emergency government plan.

The national emergency plan for fuel grants key workers "priority access" to pumps and caps the amount drivers can spend on fuel.

On Tuesday the British Medical Association said health and care workers "can't afford" to spend a few hours waiting for fuel as it called for the Government to ensure that critical workers have access.

Dr David Wrigley, deputy chair of the BMA council, told Times Radio: "I know many of my health and social care working colleagues will be getting into the car this morning, nervously looking at the fuel dial and wondering if they've got enough fuel to do their day-to-day work.

"We can't be waiting two or three hours in a queue for fuel when we have patients to see, so we're calling on the Government to act today, to put a plan in place and let us know what's happening."

He added: "One example would be that a particular fuel station is designated for critical workers so we are allowed to get about our day-to-day jobs by getting the fuel that we need.

"It's a critical situation where we're unsure we'll have the fuel to do NHS and social care work, so a plan does need to be in place."

Health and care workers should be "worrying about patients and not their fuel dial", he added.

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