Supermarkets say they WILL support Pumpwatch regulator

SUPERMARKET chiefs today backed a Pumpwatch regulator to help ensure fuel duty cuts get passed on to consumers.

Bosses from Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons pledged support for greater transparency over prices at the pump – an issue The Sun has spent years campaigning for.

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In Northern Ireland the public can access a Fuel Price Checker enabling them to compare prices across the province.

In turn petrol stations keep fuel costs low to attract motorists.

Ministers across government have backed The Sun’s call for a similar scheme in England and Wales.

Sitting before a committee of MPs supermarket bosses also agreed.

Tory MP Jonathan Gullis told the chiefs: “I’m very delighted to hear that we have all the major supermarkets now supporting this campaign.

“That will be good news for the Chancellor who I know has been who has been engaging with the Department for Business and Trade to hear views on this matter.”

In March Jeremy Hunt froze fuel duty for a 13th year in a row and kept an additional 5p cut, after The Sun campaigned to Keep It Down.

But there are concerns greedy gas tycoons aren’t passing on the savings to consumers.

Mr Gullis added: “This government since 2010 has frozen fuel duty.

“Yet savvy consumers don’t believe for a single second the cut to fuel duty has ever been passed on to the consumer because ultimately the stubbornly high prices, particularly for diesel drivers, has meant that they feel that they’re being taken advantage of.”

David Potts, CEO of Morrisons, said: “I think anything that would benefit consumers we’d be happy to look at.”

 Rhian Bartlett, Food Commercial Director at Sainsbury’s said she “absolutely” agreed.

Mr Potts claimed that Morrisons passed on the 5p fuel cut to customers on “the same day” it came into force.

He added: “Clearly, the volatility within the market has to be tracked over time.

“The energy costs that exist, the transport costs, the labor cost within our sites, they will have added to the dollar pound and to the oil barrel post-Russia.”

Kris Comerford, Chief Commercial Officer at Asda, insisted: “Our fuel pricing strategy policy hasn’t changed over many years.

“We are still recognised, as the Competition and Markets Authority have said, as the best value fuel provider.”