Ulster Unionist Economy Spokesperson, Sandra Overend, has welcomed the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) call for information into the UK petrol and diesel sector as an opportunity to highlight the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland.

The Mid Ulster MLA said: "Northern Ireland has some of the highest petrol and diesel prices in Europe and this comes as a significant disadvantage for businesses and individuals alike. Fuel prices are driving up transport and haulage costs for businesses and at a time when many families are already finding it hard to get by, it is becoming increasingly difficult to afford to run a car and the cost of fuel in general often accounts for a major part of a household's expenditure. Rural communities are also disproportionately affected and I know this only too well from my own constituents in Mid Ulster.

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"I welcome this call from the OFT into petrol and diesel prices and note that they intend to look at various claims such as whether reductions in the price of crude oil are being reflected in falling pump prices, if the practices of supermarkets and major oil companies may be making it more difficult for independent retailers to compete with them and if there is a lack of competition between fuel retailers in some remote communities.

"These are all important questions which need to be answered to ensure that Northern Ireland consumers do not continue to be subjected to high fuel prices."

(CD)