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17th June 2008

Fuel Costs Hitting Local Authorities

North East MSP and Conservative transport spokesman Alex Johnstone has expressed concern at the financial impact that rising fuel costs are having on local authorities, and is raising the issue with the Scottish Government.

Mr Johnstone said "Lorry drivers and other commercial vehicle drivers have justifiably taken their protest to the Scottish Parliament and I was delighted to meet them.  Everyone is feeling the pinch from these fuel costs, but local authorities, who are already in a tight financial situation are also being hit hard."

"I hope that the SNP is reflecting on a motion which it lodged in 2000 during the last fuel crisis. Then, their Transport spokesman Kenny MacAskill asked that a fuel duty rebate scheme should be considered, similar to the bus operators grant scheme which is a devolved issue.

"It is now eight years since that motion was lodged, and thirteen months since the SNP took over in government, so I assume that they have investigated whether the such an essential user's rebate for fuel duty would be competent and how much it would cost. Based on this information, a decision could then be made about whether it is worth further consideration."

Mr Johnstone continued, “I am only too aware that Local Authorities like Aberdeenshire, already receiving government funding at a rate 13.4% below the Scottish Average and with a geographically dispersed area, must be suffering more than most from the sky-high fuel prices we are currently experiencing”

Mr Johnstone has submitted a question to the Scottish Government asking how it proposes to ensure the continuity of essential services in the face of ever increasing fuel costs.