Macneil to discuss fuel costs with island supplier 30/4/08
Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP Angus MacNeil will meet up with Scottish Fuels next week regarding the high cost of fuel in the Western Isles, and especially about the different costs at the different locations where Scottish Fuels deliver in the Highlands and Islands.
He said: “Last week the Chancellor Alasdair Darling agreed with my actions in contacting the Office of Fair Trading asking them to investigate the different prices at different locations in the Highlands and Islands.
Mr MacNeil said: “Every constituent I meet are on to me about the high cost of fuel, which in the past few months have reached record high levels –at this rate fishermen and small businesses will be unable to sustain these near weekly increases.
“I will be raising these concerns with Scottish Fuels when I meet them next week, and I hope that they will be reasonable and listen to these concerns.
“When the Finance Bill will be next going through Parliament, I will be raising the issue of how the French Government has cut 3p off the fuel duty in their rural areas, and if this could be done for the rural areas of the UK. We as a party will also be trying to introduce a Fuel Price Regulator –this will probably be voted down by Labour.
“With the Chancellor Alasdair Darling, agreeing last week that the variance in fuel prices should be looked at, then I would hope that the Treasury will give a reasonable hearing to the Cross Party group of MP’s which will be meeting them about this very important issue.”
