Liberal Democrats reminded of commitment to rural fuel prices

Liberal Democrats reminded of commitment to rural fuel prices

Na h-Eileanan an Iar MP, Angus MacNeil has called on the new Conservative / Liberal Democrat Government to introduce a Fuel Duty Derogation for rural areas. The issue is one that Scottish Liberal Democrat MPs have supported in the past and the hope is that they will now insist on the measure as part of the new UK Government.

Mr MacNeil has called for this so that there will be parity in the rural areas of Scotland with the rural areas of France, Portugal and Greece. Mr MacNeil commented: ‘At the moment the rural areas of France, Portugal and Greece enjoy a 3p reduction in their fuel duty, something that was supported by the previous Labour government, and a proposal that has been supported by Scottish Lib Dem MPs in the past. ‘With the soaring price of fuel, I would hope that the new government will consider this proposal, and I also hope that the Lib Dem MPs will be fully supportive of it, and have not forgotten the needs of the Highlands and Islands since entering the coalition.

‘I would hope that Highland and Islands issues such as a Fuel Duty Derogation for rural areas were one of the issues that the Lib Dems agreed on with their Conservative counterparts before they entered into the coalition government and that the issue was not forgotten about.’