Debate on the high cost of fuel in remote and island communities

12 February, 2010 - 11:35 — admin

Debate on the high cost of fuel in remote and island communities

 
Western Isles Liberal Democrat candidate Jean Davis has welcomed  a parliamentary debate on fuel duty on petrol prices in remote and rural areas. The debate, secured by Alistair Carmichael, Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland, is being held this week.   Ms Davis said: “I hope that our own MP will be positively participating on behalf of Western Isles voters as I would if currently sitting in Parliament.”
 
“Alistair Carmichael has campaigned tirelessly for fairer island fuel prices since 2001 and believes that the government not only has an opportunity to help in this issue, they have in fact a duty to do so.  
 
“Labour have been reluctant to introduce a duty rebate system or even to trial one. “Lets hope they will reconsider and support remote and rural communities. High fuel prices is probably the single greatest disadvantage forced on to communities such as ours.” She added: “The price issue has been addressed in other EU countries and only 2 weeks ago George Lyon, Liberal Democrat MEP asked the European Commission to look into the issue of derogation.”
 
“Liberal Democrats are working for action which will support island economies. We are demonstrating joined up politics unlike Labour and the SNP here, who spend more time attacking each other rather than working on issues such as this which are vitally important to voters.