Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP Angus MacNeil is writing to the Chancellor of the Exchequer calling for an increase to the Rural Fuel Rebate.
The Rural Fuel Rebate was introduced in 2012 after many years of heavy lobbying by Mr MacNeil and others to take 5p off a litre of fuel in island and other rural locations.
Mr MacNeil says, in light of current escalating prices, now is the time to increase the Rebate which has not changed in more than a decade.
Commenting Mr MacNeil said:
“It is time to increase the Rural Fuel Rebate.
“It was set at 5p many years ago and the Chancellor should now be looking at raising this to 10p a litre.
“I am writing to the Chancellor on those terms to investigate the Rural Fuel Rebate Scheme.
“In the past the UK Government took a very long time to do this.
“At the time the UK Government blamed Europe for that but Europe had been doing this a long before the UK.
“I am writing to the UK Government calling on them to show that they can act quickly and will increase the Rebate from 5p a litre to 10p a litre.
“I hope that the Chancellor will listen and take into account the many difficulties in rural and island areas with rising fuel costs.”
