Western Isles MSP, Alasdair Allan, has condemned the UK Government’s apparent decision to shelve its promised cut in fuel duty for island communities, saying it showed Westminster’s “absolute contempt for communities facing the highest fuel costs in the world.”
Dr Allan commented:
“It is four months now since the Conservative-LibDem Government in London made its promise to cut fuel duty by 5p a litre in island communities. Since then, the VAT rise has actually put up the cost of petrol at the pumps. Island communities pay most VAT because they have the dearest fuel. Meanwhile the UK Government shows no signs of heeding the calls for a fuel price stabiliser to address the problem.
“So the UK Government’s indication today that it is likely to shelve its promise on fuel duty in the islands, until at least after the budget at the end of March, is unacceptable.
“VAT from island motorists”
“The fact that Westminster have not even applied to the EU to make the cut in duty will be regarded in the islands as adding severe insult to injury. Unless they can clarify their position immediately, the Lib Dems and Tories can expect to be pressurised mercilessly by the SNP on this issue during the Scottish elections.
“I saw on the news someone complaining that the price of fuel had reached 124p a litre in their area. I have news for them, and for the UK Government – in parts of my constituency the price has reached 146p. I know that similar extreme prices are being felt in islands from Shetland to Argyll.
“And yet, the UK Government has done precisely nothing to address this situation, except to continue to collect the fuel duty and VAT from island motorists who face no realistic alternative means of transport.
“I am now being inundated with messages from constituents who are having severe difficulty affording such basic tasks as getting to work and the shops. It is time the UK Government started listening to them.”
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