SNP complacency over rising fuel prices exposed (South Of Scotland Liberal Democrats)

South Of Scotland Liberal Democrats <info@libdems.org.uk>

SNP complacency over rising fuel prices exposed

August 17, 2009 1:57 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats have exposed the SNP's complacency over rising fuel prices.

Four months ago, the Scottish Parliament voted on a Liberal Democrat motion calling on the Scottish Government to work with the UK Government and the European Commission before the Finance Bill was passed to secure a fuel duty derogation for Scotland.

This would have provided the maximum duty reduction allowed under EU law for people who live in remote rural areas and buy their fuel at local filling stations.

Replies to Freedom of Information requests show that despite hand wringing and protestations that something must be done, the only action taken by the Scottish Government has been to mention the derogation in a letter about the Budget, to draw a map of rural fuel stations and produce a briefing note for the Liberal Democrat debate.

At the time of the debate unleaded petrol in Kirkwall, Orkney cost 104.9p per litre and diesel cost 110.2p per litre. According to petrolprices.com, the price has since gone up to 114.9p for petrol and 115.9p for diesel.

Commenting, Mr McArthur said:

"People in remote and rural areas of Scotland can pay as much as much as 13 and 14p more per litre than the national average.

"Back in April, prompted by reports of rural fuel stations charging up to 148.0p per litre for fuel, the Liberal Democrats, backed by the Scottish Parliament, called on the SNP Government to work with the UK Government and the European Commission to secure a rural fuel derogation for Scotland.

"The Scottish Government had months to push the case for a derogation to the UK Government, but information obtained under Freedom of Information laws shows that all they did was draw a picture and then a passing reference to it in a long list of grievances about the budget.

"It appears as though the SNP's heart is just not in it. The least that the Scottish Parliament expected was a Ministerial meeting. But instead of straining every sinew to get the job done, the SNP have opted, yet again, for rhetoric over results.

"SNP politicians never miss an opportunity to point the finger at Westminster for escalating fuel costs. Scarcely a week goes by without somebody from the SNP accusing Labour of letting drivers down.

"Labour has let down drivers across the UK, but they've been aided and abetted by the SNP in Scotland.

"Their failure to secure a rural fuel derogation for Scotland shows once again that the SNP prefer to accuse rather than act.

"The SNP has badly let down Scottish drivers in remote and rural areas."