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The Government's decision to delay the rise in fuel duty in last week's Budget was a mistake, according to the Liberal Democrats. Norman Baker, the Lib Dems' shadow transport secretary, says the 2p per litre rise should have gone ahead as planned, and that hauliers should not be exempt from any duty increases.

Baker says: "The last thing the Chancellor should do now, when public finances are so tight, is to throw away an income stream while simultaneously damaging the environment." He  went on to say that he is sympathetic to haulage operators, because their costs are so much more than other European hauliers, but that a reduction in duty for the industry was not the way to solve the problem.

He adds: "We do recognise the difficulties faced by hauliers, and we are keen on advancing a vignette system for foreign operators and bringing in variable road pricing as soon as possible. The problem with variable fuel duty is that it would be too difficult to operate." Baker accused the Chancellor, Alistair Darling, of talking about the need for urgent action, but then producing "a series of limp half-hearted measures".