Key workers to get exclusive access to petrol pumps under emergency government plans
KEY workers will get exclusive access to petrol pumps under emergency government plans, it is reported.
It comes as greedy fuel bosses allowed prices to surge to more than 150p a litre, as the nation queues to fill its tanks.
Last night it emerged that essential workers are set to be granted “priority access” to certain stations under proposed measures.
Government sources said designating certain stations for key workers is being kept as a back-up option as the fuel crisis entered its fourth day.
A purchase cap was also said to be in the works after desperate drivers were held up in mile-long queues at stations.
The insiders told the that it was hoped the crisis would be solved without the need for measures.
PM Boris Johnson faced calls from NHS groups, unions and medical bodies including the British Medical Association (BMA), as well as Labour and Tory politicians, to make sure doctors, nurses and other key workers get fuel first.
Surrey County Council could even adopt the measure on its own, with its Conservative leader, Tim Oliver, saying on Monday night it may declare a "major incident" to do so.
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Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said there were signs that panic buying was starting to "moderate", with "more grades of fuel now available at more petrol stations".
Meanwhile Mr Johnson has ordered up to 150 Army tanker drivers to be trained to deliver petrol in an attempt to ease shortages, with 80 likely to be helping out in the coming days.
It comes as...
- Petrol supplies have been plundered with industry figures revealing 85% of stations have run out of fuel
- Soldiers could be called in to help deliver fuel tankers as the PM mulls calling in the army
- Brawls have broken out across forecourts - including dramatic scenes between moped drivers
- Susanna Reid slams the Government, and asks "where are they?" as leaders refuse to appear on TV
- Competition laws have been suspended in an attempt to curb panic buying
- The UK’s second-biggest oil refinery faces collapse over a £223million VAT payment
- An ambulance crashed into traffic waiting for petrol while rushing to an emergency
- Grant Shapps blamed hauliers for the chaotic scenes
- A list of petrol stations with fuel can be seen here
The requirement for lorry drivers to complete a series of refresher courses to keep their certificate will also be temporarily suspended to help ease the driver shortages.
Ten fuel companies, including BP, Shell and Esso, issued a joint statement to reassure Brits on Mtonight saying they expected demand to "return to its normal levels in the coming days".
