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The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is asking the government not to go ahead with the increase in fuel duty planned for 1 April.

Fuel duty is scheduled to go up by 2p a litre.

'Small businesses deserve a break,' says Chris Glen, FSB transport chairman, claiming that a number of new tax rules have already hit businesses hard.

'Fuel prices are hurting small businesses and their customers in every sector and in every area of the country,' he says.

Rachael Pickford, who owns a haulage company in Wiltshire, notes that while the effect of an increase in fuel costs does not seem too much for car drivers but says it raises the costs for her firm by £1,000 a month.

Taxi drivers are also saying that the increases in fuel costs have hit profits. Prices are set by the local authority and driver Doug Thorogood from East Sussex says charges have not kept up with rising fuel costs.

According to the Telegraph, motorists are paying an average of 104.8p for a litre of petrol, with some stations charging up to 114p. Diesel is about 109p a litre. A year ago, a litre of petrol cost 86.26p.

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