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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Islands fuel discount considered for UK mainland | Islands fuel discount considered for UK mainland |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| A fuel discount that applies to the Scottish islands and the Isles of Scilly could be extended to remote and rural parts of the UK mainland. | A fuel discount that applies to the Scottish islands and the Isles of Scilly could be extended to remote and rural parts of the UK mainland. |
| The scheme, which was introduced last year, gives motorists a maximum 5p per litre reduction in duty. | The scheme, which was introduced last year, gives motorists a maximum 5p per litre reduction in duty. |
| The UK government is now looking at petrol and diesel prices in 36 areas in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. | |
| The European Commission would have to approve any change to the scheme. | The European Commission would have to approve any change to the scheme. |
| Introduced in March 2012, the discount applies to the Hebrides, Northern Isles, islands in the Clyde and the Isles of Scilly. | Introduced in March 2012, the discount applies to the Hebrides, Northern Isles, islands in the Clyde and the Isles of Scilly. |
| Fuel prices have been sought from almost 1,500 retailers ahead of making an application to the EC in the autumn for an extension to the scheme. | Fuel prices have been sought from almost 1,500 retailers ahead of making an application to the EC in the autumn for an extension to the scheme. |
| Businesses in the following areas have been asked for information: | Businesses in the following areas have been asked for information: |
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said the scheme aimed to keep fuel prices down where costs of transporting petrol and diesel were high. | Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said the scheme aimed to keep fuel prices down where costs of transporting petrol and diesel were high. |
| He said: "I know that there are other remote rural areas of the UK with similarly high fuel costs. | He said: "I know that there are other remote rural areas of the UK with similarly high fuel costs. |
| "So we are today starting to gather further evidence that will form part of an application to the commission to extend the island fuel duty discount scheme to very remote rural areas. | "So we are today starting to gather further evidence that will form part of an application to the commission to extend the island fuel duty discount scheme to very remote rural areas. |
| "We will need to prove that there are areas which are similar to the islands in terms of pump prices and distribution costs, so I would urge local areas that may qualify to provide the information we need to make the case as robust as possible." | "We will need to prove that there are areas which are similar to the islands in terms of pump prices and distribution costs, so I would urge local areas that may qualify to provide the information we need to make the case as robust as possible." |