Fuel strike: Ministers stick to walkout plans

The government says it is right to continue with contingency plans for a fuel strike, despite a deal being near.

The Unite union will meet next week to discuss the deal, which was tabled on Friday following six days of talks with officials from six distribution firms.

After the breakthrough at Acas talks, a government spokesman said contingency plans would continue.

But the union's Nick Dennis said that this was not helpful in trying to reach a negotiated settlement.

He added: "The government is not being helpful in the way they've handled this situation."

After the Friday talks led to a possible deal, a spokesman for the Department for Energy and Climate Change had said: "We welcome the news that Unite plan to put a deal to their members.

"As we've said all along, we're taking sensible measures to plan for a possible strike and will continue to do so until a final agreement is reached."

The deal was tabled on Friday following six days of talks between the union and officials from six distribution firms. Its details have not been disclosed.

About 60 union representatives from across the country will discuss the deal and have until Friday to accept the proposals or announce a strike.

The threat of a strike over safety, pay and working conditions resulted in panic buying at petrol stations.