He was moving a motion calling on the executive to lobby for an increase in HMRC mileage rates so that members who found themselves out of pocket could be recompensed.

“In SSE, we find we end up actually subsidising the company’s fuel bill,” he said.

Allen Wales (ScottishPower) called on conference to remit the motion on the grounds that HMRC was the wrong target.

“There is an issue with the mileage rates. But where we are having problems is when the company does not pay the rates that are permissable under existing HMRC rules. They are telling members they can claim the difference from HMRC themselves through the tax system.”

He said that in effect, the tax system was supporting multinational companies. However, delegates disagreed and carried the motion.