Priority at pumps for key workers in plan to ease crisis
Some petrol stations could be reserved for medics as PM faces calls to take extra steps
KEY workers would be given exclusive access to certain petrol stations under emergency government measures to ease the fuel crisis.
The plan would grant essential workers “priority access” to pumps, and would cap the amount drivers can spend on fuel.
Yesterday, on a fourth day of queues for petrol, the Prime Minister 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 unilaterally, with its Conservative leader, Tim Oliver, saying last night it may declare a “major incident” in order to do so.
Boris 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.
The requirement for lorry drivers to complete a series of refresher courses to keep their certificate will also be temporarily suspended.
Government sources said it was hoped the petrol crisis would be alleviated without the need for further measures. Options such as designating petrol stations for key workers and a purchase cap would be held in reserve as backup options.
Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, said there were signs the panicbuying was starting to “moderate” with “more grades of fuel now available at more petrol stations”.
Ten fuel companies including BP, Shell and Esso issued a joint statement yesterday saying they expected demand to “return to its normal levels in the coming days”.
The move was an attempt to reassure the public that the closed petrol stations and queues seen across the country would ease if people returned to behaving normally.
Yesterday, there were reports from the Petrol Retailers’ Association that 90 per cent of petrol stations in some areas had run out of fuel.
Some bin collections were cancelled while teaching unions warned that schools might have to return to online learning if teachers were unable to get to work.
Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, said: “The men and women of our Armed Forces stand ready to alleviate the transport pressures where they are felt most.
“That is why I have authorised their increased preparedness so they are ready to respond if needed.”
Ministers continue to hope that in the coming days the petrol crisis will ease, with many drivers who have already filled up their tanks unlikely to do so again.
The “national emergency plan for fuel”, published by the Government in January 2020, outlined the 10 steps that could be taken in the event of a crisis scenario.
Some of the steps – including lifting competition laws so drivers can deliver
‘Key workers mustn’t be left stranded or forced to queue for hours simply to get to a pump’
petrol to rival businesses, and calling in soldiers to help – have been implemented.
Another option is called the “designated filling station scheme”, which would mean “emergency and critical service vehicles” are given priority. The move was taken by Tony Blair during the 2000 fuel crisis.
Senior figures at the BMA, Royal College of Nursing, Unison, NHS Providers and Prison Officers Association yesterday called for the measure.
Christina Mcanea, Unison’s general secretary, said: “Ambulance crews, nurses, care workers, teaching assistants, police staff and other key workers mustn’t be left stranded or forced to queue for hours simply to get to a pump.”
Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor, and Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader, also added their voices to the calls.
Mr Khan urged the Government to consider the measure “urgently” and Sir Iain said ministers should “think very seriously about prioritising key workers”.
The health campaign group Everydoctor, which represents 1,700 doctors, said it had been told two consultants at a site in Bedford had been unable to get to work as they did not have fuel.
Government sources involved in discussions yesterday said that prioritising key workers was an option but not one “under consideration at this stage”.
But the possibility of local authorities acting independently emerged last night.
Mr Oliver, the Surrey council leader, said the local resilience forum was considering declaring “a major incident” and prioritising key workers.
He said: “We have been experiencing the same problems as everyone else so
we are deciding whether or not to declare a major incident which would give the forum powers to prioritise key workers. We have got access to fuel supplies, which we can designate for priority workers.”
In a move to reassure customers, the 10 fuel companies issued a joint statement, which was released by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
“There is plenty of fuel at UK refineries and terminals, and as an industry we are working closely with the Government to help ensure fuel is available to be delivered to stations across the country,” it said.
“As many cars are now holding more fuel than usual, we expect that demand will return to its normal levels in the coming days, easing pressures on fuel station forecourts. We would encourage everyone to buy fuel as they usually would.”
The statement was signed by BP, Shell, Esso Petroleum/exxonmobil, Wincanton, Certas Energy UK, Hoyer Petrolog UK, Greenergy, Fuels Transport & Logistics, Downstream Fuel and Suckling Transport.