TONY Blair and his Government's policy towards petrol pricing is immoral and against the economic interests of the nation.

Indeed, Tony Blair says that we have to have a 'level' playing field in Europe to trade, but he himself undermines this very situation. Increasingly all that the Labour Government's policy has done is to impoverish our people in comparison with the rest of our European trading nations by making our transport of goods far higher than anywhere else in the world. In this respect the Prime Minister should read the very recent publication from the Rowntree Foundation, where a quarter of all our people in Britain (around 15 million) are living on the poverty line.

Indeed, the poor are inevitably the first to suffer through increased road haulage costs that transfer themselves into higher food, housing and clothing costs. In this respect comparing all European nations in the wider context we are the only ones with a litre rate in the 80p range for unleaded petrol.

The petrol price facts are as follows: Britain has a higher average price by 266pc in one country, 144pc in six countries, 95pc in 10 countries, 57pc in six countries, 38pc in seven countries, 18pc in one country (all calculations derived through Ceefax p489: September 12).

Diesel has a slightly lower disparity, so how on earth does the Labour administration hope to see our nation competing on the same level terms as our European counterparts? It is an impossibility, and what the Haulage Association and Farmers are saying is perfectly true.

Dr David Stuart Hill

Chief Executive

World Innovation Foundation, Huddersfield