British motorists highest taxpayers in Europe: study

London, May 11 (UNI) Britishers pay the highest fuel taxes in Europe, and probably in the world, a new study has revealed.

According to the study, the average Briton pays almost 900 pounds in petrol taxes annually, higher than in America, Canada and Australia.

The study, by the Association of European Automobile Manufacturers, showed that Britain had the highest fuel taxes of 27 European countries surveyed.

Edmund King, the president of the Auromobile Association said, ''We may be pleased that we have two English teams in the Uefa Champions League final but it is more worrying that we are top of the European fuel taxation league in terms of unleaded petrol and diesel.'' A Treasury spokesman said yesterday, ''The Government understands that families are feeling the pressure from high fuel prices. To respond to short-term pressures, we announced in the Budget that the two pence per litre increase, scheduled for April 1, will be deferred until October 1.'' ''Our immediate priority, however, is to encourage international pressure on the oil-producing countries in Opec to bring down high oil prices'' the Daily Telegraph quoted him as saying.

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