MSP WELCOMES FREEZE ON FUEL DUTY

12.00.00am GMT Thu 13th Mar 2008

Jim Hume, MSP for the South of Scotland, has today welcomed news in Alistair Darling’s first budget that the expected 2p increase in fuel duty has been delayed.

Jim Hume said:-

“I have been lobbying both the Scottish and UK Governments on this issue for some time now.

“The news that this spring’s expected increase will be postponed until October will be welcomed by constituents across the whole of the South of Scotland where public transport is in many parts poor, and who have no option other than to use cars as their main form of transport.

“The added pressure for many in the South of Scotland is that the region is largely rural and there is a disparity between rural and urban fuel costs in that urban areas tend to pay slightly less for petrol.

The MSP continued:-

“Clearly this is not the end of the matter and pressure must be kept on the Chancellor to ensure that he listens to those who are feeling the pinch.”