SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has secured a Westminster Hall debate in an attempt to urge the Treasury to provide some relief on fuel prices in NI in the forthcoming budget.

Presently Northern Ireland motorists are facing higher fuel prices than their counterparts in England, Scotland and Wales.

Ms Ritchie said: "People across the North are really struggling to get by due to the high cost of fuel on our forecourts. This, combined with the increased cost of home heating, food and other essential commodities is putting serious financial pressure on families and businesses here and must be addressed by government.

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"I will be calling on the Treasury to provide some relief to motorists in NI in the forthcoming budget and will be asking for greater transparency on fuel costs.

"Presently the major supermarkets are operating a regional pricing process which can add up to 6p a litre to the cost of fuel in some areas and this has to stop.

"The Coalition Government had planned to increase our motor fuel by 3p a litre last month, but has agreed to delay it until August. We in the SDLP will be calling on government not to implement this price hike and will be making a case for tighter regulation of fuel prices in the North.

"It is vital that action is taken before these costs soar further and more businesses are forced to close due to increased fuel prices."

(CD/GK)