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Fuel bills are 'burden' on firms | Fuel bills are 'burden' on firms |
(1 day later) | |
Rising fuel costs are placing an intolerable burden on business, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce has said. | Rising fuel costs are placing an intolerable burden on business, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce has said. |
Its chief executive Liz Cameron spoke as a Holyrood debate heard called for a fuel price regulator and help for Scotland's rural areas. | |
The SNP's Western Isles MSP Alasdair Allan, who brought the member's debate said rural businesses were at risk. | |
The calls came as the prime minister urged oil industry leaders to come up with ideas for improving supplies. | |
Gordon Brown and Chancellor Alistair Darling were asking industry leaders in north east Scotland what help they would need from the government - such as investment in new infrastructure or oil exploration. | |
'Global problem' | |
Mr Brown said: "This is not just a national problem. It is a global problem of supply and demand, not just in the short-term but the medium-term and the long-term. | |
"Therefore what your ideas and insights are, to contribute to getting the right balance between supply and demand, is going to be very useful to us." | |
Meanwhile, First Minister Alex Salmond challenged Mr Brown to spell out how Scotland would benefit from the extra revenues generated by high oil prices. | |
The SNP estimated that the UK Treasury would receive an additional £4bn from North Sea oil production this year. | |
Ms Cameron, of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said high fuel prices were being felt especially hard in remote and rural areas of Scotland - particularly in island communities. | |
She said the price of diesel in particular had become a "serious concern". | |
Ms Cameron said: "High diesel prices are having a detrimental effect not just on Scottish hauliers and the logistics sector but also directly and indirectly on almost every business the length and breadth of the country. | |
"Rising fuel and transportation costs are placing an intolerable burden on many businesses." | |
The two main UK fishermen's federations have joined forces to press for immediate government action on fuel prices to ensure "the viability of the fishing fleet". | |
The Scottish Fishermen's Federation and the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations have called for assistance of the kind being given to French and Spanish fleets. | |
Mr Allan's Holyrood motion was backed by SNP MSPs and a number of Liberal Democrats, including former transport minister Tavish Scott. | |
Mr Allan said: "While the Treasury makes millions from soaring revenues more and more businessmen, farmers, fishermen and families are finding themselves out of pocket." | |
On Tuesday, hundreds of lorry drivers, including some from Scotland, protested in London and along the M4 in Wales. | On Tuesday, hundreds of lorry drivers, including some from Scotland, protested in London and along the M4 in Wales. |
'Poverty exacerbated' | |
SNP politicians said they were keen to see the UK Government abandon the planned 2p rise in fuel duty. | SNP politicians said they were keen to see the UK Government abandon the planned 2p rise in fuel duty. |
They also want an application to be made to Europe asking for permission to cut fuel duty in rural areas and to see the introduction of a fuel price regulator. | They also want an application to be made to Europe asking for permission to cut fuel duty in rural areas and to see the introduction of a fuel price regulator. |
There will be further pressure on Westminster if Highland Council agrees to write to the chancellor expressing its concern about increasing fuel prices on the Highland economy and council services. | |
The authority's transport environmental and community services committee will debate the issue on Thursday. | The authority's transport environmental and community services committee will debate the issue on Thursday. |
The council has revealed that in the current financial year it expects to face an increased fuel bill of £725,000. | The council has revealed that in the current financial year it expects to face an increased fuel bill of £725,000. |
Councillor John Laing said: "Increased fuel prices will affect individual families - and households in rural areas are more likely to experience fuel poverty which is exacerbated by rising energy costs, and in particular oil prices." | |
Meanwhile, in the Scottish Borders the rise in fuel prices has had an impact on taxi fares. | |
The traffic commissioner has ruled that due to increasing costs there should be a 7% rise in minimum fares almost double the 3.9% originally proposed by the local council. | |
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