A variable displacement vane pump comprising: a housing comprising an inner surface defining an internal chamber, at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port; a control ring pivotally mounted within the internal chamber, the control ring having an inner surface defining a rotor receiving space; a rotor rotatably mounted within the rotor receiving chamber space of the control ring, wherein the rotor has a central axis eccentric to a central axis of the rotor receiving space; the rotor comprising a plurality of radially extending vanes mounted to the rotor for radial movement and sealingly engaged with the inner surface of the control ring such that rotating the rotor draws fluid in through the at least one inlet port by negative intake pressure and outputs the fluid out through the at least one outlet port by positive discharge pressure; a resilient structure configured to urge said control ring in a first pivotal direction; a plurality of seals (50, 52, 54) between the inner surface defining the housing's internal chamber and an outer surface of the control ring, the seals (50, 52, 54) defining a plurality of pressure regulating chambers comprising a first chamber and a second chamber each for receiving pressurized fluid; a valve for controlling delivery of pressurized fluid through the at least one inlet of the second chamber; wherein the seals seal the first and second chambers throughout the range of movement for the ring, characterised in that the first chamber is defined between a pair of seals (52, 54) comprising a first seal and a second seal located in a circumferential direction of the ring on opposing sides of the pivotal mounting of the control ring and has at least one inlet for receiving pressurized fluid, the circumferential extent of the first chamber being greater along a portion for applying force to the ring in a second pivotal direction than along a portion for applying force in the first pivotal direction such that a net effect is an application of force in the second pivotal direction; wherein the second chamber is defined between a pair of seals (50, 52) comprising a third seal located in the circumferential direction of the ring and has at least one inlet for receiving pressurized fluid such that the entire circumferential extent of the second chamber applies force to the ring in the second pivotal direction, the third seal being distal the first chamber in the circumferential direction. a housing comprising an inner surface defining an internal chamber, at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port; a control ring pivotally mounted within the internal chamber, the control ring having an inner surface defining a rotor receiving space; a rotor rotatably mounted within the rotor receiving chamber space of the control ring, wherein the rotor has a central axis eccentric to a central axis of the rotor receiving space; the rotor comprising a plurality of radially extending vanes mounted to the rotor for radial movement and sealingly engaged with the inner surface of the control ring such that rotating the rotor draws fluid in through the at least one inlet port by negative intake pressure and outputs the fluid out through the at least one outlet port by positive discharge pressure; a resilient structure configured to urge said control ring in a first pivotal direction; a plurality of seals (50, 52, 54) between the inner surface defining the housing's internal chamber and an outer surface of the control ring, the seals (50, 52, 54) defining a plurality of pressure regulating chambers comprising a first chamber and a second chamber each for receiving pressurized fluid; a valve for controlling delivery of pressurized fluid through the at least one inlet of the second chamber; wherein the seals seal the first and second chambers throughout the range of movement for the ring, characterised in that the first chamber is defined between a pair of seals (52, 54) comprising a first seal and a second seal located in a circumferential direction of the ring on opposing sides of the pivotal mounting of the control ring and has at least one inlet for receiving pressurized fluid, the circumferential extent of the first chamber being greater along a portion for applying force to the ring in a second pivotal direction than along a portion for applying force in the first pivotal direction such that a net effect is an application of force in the second pivotal direction; wherein the second chamber is defined between a pair of seals (50, 52) comprising a third seal located in the circumferential direction of the ring and has at least one inlet for receiving pressurized fluid such that the entire circumferential extent of the second chamber applies force to the ring in the second pivotal direction, the third seal being distal the first chamber in the circumferential direction.