A DUP MLA is urging the Prime Minister to reduce oil prices for consumers.

DUP spokesman on International Development and Culture, Media & Sport, Gregory Campbell, said that while prices have gone down for consumers, the oil prices are dipping below $50 a barrel for the first time since 2009.

He said: "When prices fall, we also see the follow-on reductions introduced much more slowly than price increases, which are always fully passed on to consumers within a few days.

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"As the commodity price falls the tax and duty proportion of the pump prices rises because fuel duty has remains unchanged. The reductions in price, which consumers welcome, have been entirely as a result of volatile global markets rather than any action taken by the government.

"There still is a need to look at the level of duty imposed by the government on fuel. Whilst the wholesale price of oil is currently low, we know that it will rise again. Northern Ireland is particularly affected because of our reliance on road transport."

(CD/JP)