SNP GOVERNMENT TO HOLD SPECIAL DEBATE ON FUEL PRICES

For Immediate Release – Wednesday 23rd February 2011



Attn: NEWS DESKS


TRANSPORT / POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS


The SNP Government is to ask Parliament for a special debate in the Scottish Parliament next week to highlight the growing issue of sky high fuel prices.


The debate, which should be approved by Parliament later today, is currently scheduled to take place on Wednesday night and will be an opportunity for all parties and MSPs to put forward their positions on fuel prices ahead of the Budget in March and the planned fuel duty increase in April.




Aberdeen North MSP and SNP Chief Whip, Brian Adam MSP, who has tabled a Scottish Parliamentary motion on the sky high costs of fuel, said:



“The SNP has consistently argued for a fuel stabiliser to bring prices down and help businesses and families and for the coming fuel duty rise to be cancelled. This is yet another opportunity for pressure to be put on the UK government to help businesses and households and make fuel duty fair.


“It’s a national scandal that in Europe’s oil-richest country, Scots are paying among the highest fuel prices.



“At the last UK general election the Tories promised a fuel duty stabiliser. If it were ever needed most it is now but those plans appear to have been forgotten.


“Every penny of fuel tax and duty heading to the Treasury is a penny out of Scotland’s economy and Scotland’s budget and will add to costs of goods across the country.


“Businesses cannot afford to be kept hanging on by the Tory-led government in London. The UK Government should commit to scrapping the duty and introducing a stabiliser now.


"Earlier this month the SNP led calls in Westminster for a fuel duty stabiliser, a discount for rural areas and the cancellation of the fuel duty rise. Lib Dems and Tories opposed that move whilst the majority of Scots Labour MPs ran away and hid without casting their vote.


“While other parties seem happy to see costs and inflation rise while hard pressed households and businesses pay the cost the SNP will do what we can to keep costs down for families and businesses with a freeze in the council tax, reduced business rates and free prescription charges.”


ENDS