Norman Lamb MP calls on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to help volunteer and charity workers during the credit crunch

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 1st Sep 2008

Norman lamb MP has written to Alistair Darling urging him to lessen the blow of rising fuel prices on charity and volunteer workers. Mr Lamb is particularly concerned that unpaid workers in counties like Norfolk will suffer most, "Charities and volunteer organizations here in Norfolk operate in a very rural county where a lot of their staff and volunteers have long distances to travel as part of their work. The impact of increasing fuel prices has had a significant effect and is the reason why I argue the case very strongly for a raising of the ceiling of 40p in respect of the tax treatment of mileage allowances".

Mr Lamb recently met with the Break Charity in Sheringham to discuss the impact rising fuel costs have had upon its work with children and adults with learning disabilities. He concluded that, "there is a real need within the charitable sector to address the impact of increased fuel costs and to ensure that a higher mileage allowance can be paid without the volunteer or the worker being affected a taxable liability