MP wins fuel debate in Commons
NORTHERN isles MP Alistair Carmichael has won a 90 minute debate in the House of Commons about the high cost of fuel in the islands.
This morning Mr Carmichael will be questioning the Treasury on their unwillingness to trial a fuel duty rebate system in the northern isles and demand why a derogation on fuel duty similar to those adopted in Europe can be introduced in this country.
Last night the MP said that he expected to speak for at least 20 minutes and to be backed by other members representing remote communities as far away as Cornwall.
He intends to include information from a new study by Liberal Democrat MEP George Lyon into the level of derogations which have been applied on the continent.
“One irony is that when France introduced a derogation the UK government voted in favour of it. Their attitude seems to be that what is sensible for remote areas in France is not sensible for this country,” he said.
Mr Carmichael said he “realistic” about his chances of changing the government mindset which has been refusing his calls for the past nine years for action to reduce fuel prices.
“Treasury ministers have failed to engage on this issue for as long as I can remember, but that doesn’t get away from the fact that this is a major hindrance for the Shetland economy.
“I shall keep making the case until they accept it or give us some reasonable explanation as to why they should not.”
Last August Mr Carmichael met Scottish secretary Jim Murphy who appeared to indicate the government were willing to introduce a fuel duty pilot scheme, but later said he had been misrepresented.
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