Cameron moots oil reserves release (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Cameron moots oil reserves release

2:57am Friday 16th March 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

David Cameron has said it is "worth looking at" releasing global oil reserves in the hope of cutting prices at the pumps for consumers.

The Prime Minister discussed the idea with US President Barack Obama at the White House, but no decision was taken to put the plan into action in the immediate future.

Mr Obama has been coming under intense pressure over rising petrol prices as he fights for re-election in November, with a gallon of "gas" now around 3.80 dollars (£2.40).

And there are concerns that the price could climb even higher because of international sanctions on exports from Iran and worries that tensions over Tehran's nuclear ambitions may worsen.

Releases from the strategic petroleum reserves were authorised last year to prevent abrupt spikes in cost as a result of disruption to supplies due to the revolution in Libya.

Mr Cameron suggested that the move could be repeated to hold prices down if there was a similar threat to supplies in the future.

Answering questions from students at New York University, Mr Cameron said that, by comparison with US forecourts, petrol prices in the UK "would probably make you faint". But he accepted that the continuing high price of fuel was holding back both economies, and said he wanted to do something to help consumers.

The Prime Minister said: "President Obama and I discussed this issue yesterday. Obviously, petrol prices are having a big effect on families, there's no doubt about it. It does have a big effect on consumer confidence, it affects household budgets. We would both like to see global oil prices lower than they are today. We didn't make any decision about the release of global oil reserve stocks. We did this last year when there was supply disruption because of the disruption in Libyan production.

"We have got to look at this issue carefully because any move on this front would have to be to recognise supply disruptions and therefore to try to smooth out the price. But I think it is worth looking at because it is having an effect on all our economies, on all our families, on our budgets."

Officials travelling with Mr Cameron on his three-day visit to the USA earlier confirmed that the Prime Minister and President had discussed a possible release of reserves. But they played down reports from London that a formal request was imminently expected from the US for Britain to get involved in an internationally co-ordinated action.