Chancellor Alistair Darling today added to growing pressure on UK oil companies to slash the cost of fuel for consumers after Royal Dutch Shell reported a 71 per cent rise in profits to $10.9 billion (£6.54 billion).

The world's second largest oil company's steep rise in profits follows a 148 per cent increase reported by its rival, BP, earlier this week due to record oil prices over the summer.

This morning, Mr Darling said: " “I want to see that reduction passed on to the pumps as quickly as possible ... because people are entitled to see the benefit of that falling price reflected in what they actually pay when they fill up the car.”

Oil prices hit a peak of $147 a barrel in July but have since fallen to $70.

Gordon Brown said two days ago that companies had been quick to raise petrol prices when the oil price was rising but seemed slower to makes cuts as it has fallen. He has threatened action if the oil companies do not respond.

Shell said that in the first nine months of this year profits on a current cost of supplies basis, its standard measure, were up 27 per cent to $26.6 billion.

The group said yesterday that it had appointed Peter Voser as its new chief executive. Swiss-born Mr Voser, 50, is Shell’s chief financial officer and will replace incumbent Jeroen van der Veer from July 1, 2009.

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