PARTYS JOIN FORCES ON VOLUNTEER DRIVERS HIT BY RISING FUEL COSTS

4.28.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 15th Jul 2008

West Worcestershire's Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate, Richard Burt and County Councillor colleague, Liz Tucker have both signed a petition posted by Conservative Parliamentary Candidate, Harriett Baldwin on the No 10 website.

The petition calls on Gordon Brown to raise the maximum allowance for volunteer NHS drivers from the present ceiling of 40pence per mile before rising fuel costs force volunteers to quit.

The petition has so far attracted 850 signatures, including 400 county councillors form around the country.

Richard Burt said:

"I was asked by the Malvern District Branch of Community Action to sign this petition in a spirit of cross-party cooperation and did so without hesitation.

"The future of volunteer drivers who ferry patients to and from hospitals, GP surgeries and day centres is clearly under threat due to the skyrocketing cost of fuel.

"Volunteer drivers have told me that despite the price of fuel going up sharply over the last few months they are still entitled to only 40pence per mile. The rising cost at the pump has meant that many drivers across the district are now actually losing money.

Richard said that in addition to supporting the petition he would be writing to NHS Trust bosses asking that they re-evaluate their fuel payments to ensure this invaluable and much used service provided by volunteers does not crack under the strain.

"Across the country some nurses and other staff have recently had an increase in their tax free mileage rate from 40p to 44p to compensate for the rising cost of fuel, so it's only fair that the volunteer drivers receive the same amount," added Richard.