PHH Vehicle Management Services has called for the Government to launch an inquiry into why UK motorists are paying the highest fuel prices in Europe, when the actual fuel price - minus duty and VAT - is the lowest. It wants to see UK fuel duty brought in line with the rest of Europe, and is advising motorists to lobby their MPs.

The call comes following figures from Esso which show that British fleets are paying the highest prices in Europe, despite the fact that when taxes are excluded the actual cost of the fuel is the lowest. Two weeks ago truckers called for equal fuel duty across the EU with a 40mph protest along the northbound M6 to try to get their message across to the Government.

Mark Morgan, PHH product marketing manager - fuel, said: 'With UK pump prices a ludicrous 23.1p per litre more than Spain, PHH believes the Government should order an immediate inquiry into its policy for UK fuel duty imposition and that motorists should lobby their MPs to get the matter discussed at the highest level.' He believes the Government's 'short termist' approach to raising revenue through loading fuel duty way over EU averages could seriously slow long term UK domestic growth.