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| Fuel strike threat: Hauliers and energy secretary meet | Fuel strike threat: Hauliers and energy secretary meet |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Haulage companies are to meet Energy Secretary Ed Davey to discuss any help they may be able to offer if fuel tanker drivers go on strike. | |
| The government said the dispute itself would not be discussed at the meeting, only establishing "detailed and robust" contingency plans for a strike. | The government said the dispute itself would not be discussed at the meeting, only establishing "detailed and robust" contingency plans for a strike. |
| UK petrol stations have reported a rise in fuel demand after ministers told people to top up their supplies. | UK petrol stations have reported a rise in fuel demand after ministers told people to top up their supplies. |
| But ministers reject retailer claims their advice has caused "panic buying". | But ministers reject retailer claims their advice has caused "panic buying". |
| Queues formed at many petrol stations across the country on Thursday as demand for fuel shot up. | Queues formed at many petrol stations across the country on Thursday as demand for fuel shot up. |
| Some garages ran dry but retailers said they were coping and normal deliveries would ensure supplies were replenished. | Some garages ran dry but retailers said they were coping and normal deliveries would ensure supplies were replenished. |
| Some 90% of UK forecourts are supplied by the Unite union's 2,000 or so members at the centre of the dispute. | Some 90% of UK forecourts are supplied by the Unite union's 2,000 or so members at the centre of the dispute. |
| Unite's drivers, who deliver fuel to Shell and Esso garages and supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury's, have called for minimum working conditions covering pay, hours, holiday and redundancy. | Unite's drivers, who deliver fuel to Shell and Esso garages and supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury's, have called for minimum working conditions covering pay, hours, holiday and redundancy. |
| Conciliation service Acas says it hopes talks between employers and unions will take place shortly after Monday. | Conciliation service Acas says it hopes talks between employers and unions will take place shortly after Monday. |
| This makes Easter strikes unlikely because the unions have to give seven days' notice, correspondents say. | This makes Easter strikes unlikely because the unions have to give seven days' notice, correspondents say. |
| Anticipating a strike they describe as "completely wrong", ministers have called for motorists to keep their cars "topped up" but urged people not to queue. | Anticipating a strike they describe as "completely wrong", ministers have called for motorists to keep their cars "topped up" but urged people not to queue. |
| On Thursday, Mr Davey said people "just need to do the sensible thing... get a full tank of petrol, not a half-tank." | On Thursday, Mr Davey said people "just need to do the sensible thing... get a full tank of petrol, not a half-tank." |
| Downing Street has asked Mr Davey to meet hauliers on Friday to discuss plans in the event of a strike. | Downing Street has asked Mr Davey to meet hauliers on Friday to discuss plans in the event of a strike. |
| He told the BBC the talks were aimed at building "detailed and robust" contingency plans. | He told the BBC the talks were aimed at building "detailed and robust" contingency plans. |
| Mr Davey said one of the issues to be discussed would involve looking at ways to store fuel to ensure that emergency services had enough supplies in the event of industrial action. | Mr Davey said one of the issues to be discussed would involve looking at ways to store fuel to ensure that emergency services had enough supplies in the event of industrial action. |
| Earlier, a Department of Energy and Climate Change spokeswoman said: "There will be no discussions on the dispute itself. That is an industrial matter, and it is for the employers and unions to resolve their issues by getting around the negotiating table and talking." | Earlier, a Department of Energy and Climate Change spokeswoman said: "There will be no discussions on the dispute itself. That is an industrial matter, and it is for the employers and unions to resolve their issues by getting around the negotiating table and talking." |
| Brian Madderson, chairman of independent retailers' group RMI Petrol, accused ministers of "making a crisis out of a serious concern" and said they should have sought industry advice "weeks ago" on how to avoid fuel shortages. | Brian Madderson, chairman of independent retailers' group RMI Petrol, accused ministers of "making a crisis out of a serious concern" and said they should have sought industry advice "weeks ago" on how to avoid fuel shortages. |
| It said petrol sales had been up 81% on normal levels on Wednesday, with diesel up 43%. | It said petrol sales had been up 81% on normal levels on Wednesday, with diesel up 43%. |
| Teresa Sayers, chief executive of retailer group the Downstream Fuel Association, said increased demand had resulted in some UK garages running out of fuel. | Teresa Sayers, chief executive of retailer group the Downstream Fuel Association, said increased demand had resulted in some UK garages running out of fuel. |
| About 1,200 of the UK's 8,500 petrol stations are operated by supermarkets, with oil companies owning some 1,800. | About 1,200 of the UK's 8,500 petrol stations are operated by supermarkets, with oil companies owning some 1,800. |
| The Petrol Retailers Association, which represents around 5,500 garages, said: "This is exactly what we didn't want - people panic buying." | The Petrol Retailers Association, which represents around 5,500 garages, said: "This is exactly what we didn't want - people panic buying." |
| 'Shambles' accusation | 'Shambles' accusation |
| Acas said in a statement it had contacted both Unite officials and the contractors involved and was receiving more detailed briefings on issues underpinning the dispute. | Acas said in a statement it had contacted both Unite officials and the contractors involved and was receiving more detailed briefings on issues underpinning the dispute. |
| "This will enable us to determine more clearly the form substantive talks should take to provide the best opportunity for a negotiated settlement." | "This will enable us to determine more clearly the form substantive talks should take to provide the best opportunity for a negotiated settlement." |
| It said it hoped a format for talks would be fixed by Monday, with face-to-face discussions starting soon afterwards. | It said it hoped a format for talks would be fixed by Monday, with face-to-face discussions starting soon afterwards. |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband called on Prime Minister David Cameron to apologise for "presiding over a shambles" and accused the government of diverting attention from criticism of the Budget. | Labour leader Ed Miliband called on Prime Minister David Cameron to apologise for "presiding over a shambles" and accused the government of diverting attention from criticism of the Budget. |
| Conservatives hit back at Labour for failing to condemn the stance of Unite - the party's biggest donor. | Conservatives hit back at Labour for failing to condemn the stance of Unite - the party's biggest donor. |